Political Science and Government at Bethel University

A political science degree that leaves graduates with $23,750 in debt while starting around $35,000—numbers drawn from similar Minnesota programs—tells a challenging financial story. That 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio means nearly 70% of first-year income would go toward debt if a graduate dedicated everything to repayment, a burden that will constrain housing choices, career flexibility, and other financial decisions for years. When peer programs at Minnesota's flagship campuses and selective liberal arts colleges are producing first-year earnings in the $38,000-$40,000 range, the estimated trajectory here appears less competitive.

The broader context matters too: political science graduates nationally earn around $35,600 in their first year, so these estimated figures suggest Bethel's outcomes align with typical performance rather than exceeding it. For a degree that often serves as a stepping stone to graduate school, law school, or public service careers—fields that either delay earnings or require additional debt—starting with nearly $24,000 already owed creates compound pressure. The estimated numbers here don't reveal whether Bethel's political science program opens doors to the kinds of positions or graduate programs that justify this investment, and that's information worth seeking directly from the school before committing.