Political Science and Government at Augustana College

Augustana's political science graduates start modestly at $35,626 but see remarkable earnings growth, jumping 50% to reach $53,548 by year four—a trajectory that outpaces most programs in this field. While first-year earnings sit right at the national median, this program ranks in the 60th percentile among Illinois schools, meaningfully above the state median of $34,418. The $27,000 debt load is moderate but not excessive, translating to a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable for liberal arts graduates.

The real story here is what happens after year one. Political science typically requires graduate school or professional development before reaching higher earnings, and Augustana's graduates appear to be finding that path successfully. By year four, they're earning nearly $20,000 more than their starting salary—substantially better growth than most political science programs deliver. The debt burden, while higher than the national median, ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs carry similar or greater debt.

For families willing to view this as a longer-term investment, the numbers work. Your child won't be earning Northwestern money ($54,737 at year one), but they'll be on solid footing with debt that's proportional to their eventual earnings. The key is understanding that political science careers often start slowly—expect entry-level nonprofit or campaign work initially, with stronger earnings emerging as experience accumulates.