Political Science Degree in Evansville, IN — Salary & ROI 2026
Political Science degree analysis for Evansville, IN. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$41K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$62K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
7.1 yrs
in Evansville
Cost of Living
86
index (100 = avg)
Political Science in Evansville, IN Overview
Evansville, Indiana (pop. 117,298) has 10 colleges offering Political Science programs. The local cost of living index of 86 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $974/month. Political Science enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Policy Analysis and Research. The adjusted starting salary in Evansville is approximately $41,280.
Category
Social Sciences
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$8,448/yr
Private Tuition
$42,316/yr
Room & Board
$11,425/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$12,482/yr
Unemployment
4.8%
Graduation Rate
57%
Political Science Salary in Evansville (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Evansville's cost of living index of 86 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Political Science salary: $48,000 starting, $72,000 mid-career, $95,000 senior level.Evansville adjustment factor: 0.86x based on the local cost of living index.
Political Science ROI Calculator for Evansville
Estimate your return on investment for a Political Science degree using local Evansville tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $8,448 | Private avg: $42,316
Evansville avg aid: $12,482/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$79,492
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$11,180
vs HS diploma in Evansville
ROI Payback Period
7.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Evansville
$264,508
Lifetime earnings premium ($344,000) minus total education cost ($79,492)
Student Loan Payoff for Political Science in Evansville
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Evansville for Political Science
University of Evansville
private
$42,316/yr
$169,264 total
University of Southern Indiana
public
$8,448/yr
$33,792 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Ivy Tech Community College Evansville
$4,540/yr
Top Employers for Political Science in Evansville
Evansville offers opportunities in Government agencies, Non-profits, Research institutes for Political Science graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Evansville Hiring Sectors for Social Sciences
Government agencies
Non-profits
Research institutes
Social services
Consulting
Common Political Science Job Titles
Political Science in Nearby Indiana Cities
Indianapolis, IN
$45K starting · COL 94
25 colleges
Fort Wayne, IN
$49K starting · COL 103
24 colleges
South Bend, IN
$43K starting · COL 89
9 colleges
Carmel, IN
$50K starting · COL 105.2
4 colleges
Fishers, IN
$48K starting · COL 100.5
4 colleges
Bloomington, IN
$40K starting · COL 83
5 colleges
Hammond, IN
$45K starting · COL 93.1
4 colleges
Lafayette, IN
$41K starting · COL 84.8
3 colleges
Other Social Sciences Majors in Evansville
International Relations
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Urban Planning
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Geography
$43K starting · 5.5 yr ROI
Forensic Science
$43K starting · 4.8 yr ROI
Sustainability Studies
$43K starting · 5.8 yr ROI
Psychology
$38K starting · 6 yr ROI
Criminal Justice
$43K starting · 5 yr ROI
Sociology
$38K starting · 6.5 yr ROI
Political Science Degree in Evansville — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Political Science ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Evansville.