Master's · Charles Town, West Virginia

Is Political Science and Government at American Public University System worth it?

Low confidence Low confidence: fewer than 40 graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 4.6 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $72,657; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $80,346; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $37,456; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Typical borrowing (no graduate net price is published): $40k (likely $40k – $40k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $18k a year vs bachelor's graduates 4 years out in WV; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 4.6 years (likely 2.6–10.3); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: −$16k (likely −$135k – $127k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $223k (likely −$30k – $524k); Today's dollars

Scorecard reports no net price for graduate programs; cost is based on what graduates typically borrowed.