Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,534
Est. from PA median (28 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,000
Est. from PA median (22 programs)

Analysis

Pennsylvania's political science programs show dramatic variation, with top institutions producing first-year earnings nearly double the state median. Albright's political science program appears to track right at Pennsylvania's middle ground—similar programs across the state suggest earnings around $37,500 and debt near $26,000. While these aren't Albright's actual graduate outcomes, they offer a reasonable baseline for comparison given the school's 86% admission rate and student profile.

That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates would owe roughly two-thirds of their first-year salary. Nationally, political science bachelor's degrees produce median earnings of $35,600, so the Pennsylvania estimate sits slightly above average. However, the gap between Albright's likely outcomes and Pennsylvania's elite programs—where graduates earn $48,000 to $65,000—reveals how much institutional prestige matters in this field. Political science careers often depend heavily on internships, networks, and graduate school opportunities that vary significantly across institutions.

The challenge here is uncertainty: without actual data on Albright's political science graduates, you're making decisions based on statewide patterns rather than school-specific results. If your student plans to pursue law school, public policy graduate programs, or competitive government positions, investigate what percentage of Albright political science graduates successfully move into those pathways. The mid-range debt load provides some flexibility, but in a field where credentials and connections drive outcomes, understanding Albright's specific placement record matters more than these estimated numbers.

Where Albright College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (72 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Albright CollegeReading$28,794$37,534*$26,000*
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$65,473*$86,353$14,722*0.22
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem$62,180$53,632*$75,918$21,150*0.39
Bucknell UniversityLewisburg$64,772$53,012*$69,853$26,000*0.49
Lafayette CollegeEaston$62,574$48,112*$71,924$13,640*0.28
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$46,549*$72,272$25,620*0.55
National Median$35,627*$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Albright College, approximately 50% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 28 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.