Political Science and Government at Appalachian State University

Appalachian State's Political Science program starts graduates at $30,000—below both the national median ($35,627) and North Carolina's state median ($32,780). While that puts this program in the bottom 20% nationally, the 33% earnings growth to nearly $40,000 by year four shows meaningful career progression. Among North Carolina's 43 political science programs, Appalachian sits squarely in the middle, considerably behind UNC-Chapel Hill ($41,200) and Duke ($54,970), but the $21,500 debt load is lower than both state and national averages.

The real question is whether that four-year trajectory continues upward or plateaus. The first-year salary is concerning—it's barely above minimum wage work—but graduates who stick with career paths in government, nonprofits, or graduate school do see their income improve. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.71 is manageable, meaning students aren't taking on crushing debt for these outcomes.

For a family weighing this choice: Appalachian State offers an affordable entry point to political science, but your child will likely need either geographic mobility or graduate education to reach higher earning potential. If they're committed to North Carolina and can land in the state's better public sector or advocacy positions, the numbers work. If they're uncertain about their career path, the weak starting salary is a real vulnerability.