Political Science and Government at Brown University

Brown's Political Science program graduates earn $54,634 in their first year—53% above the national median and 39% above Rhode Island's median for this degree. More impressive: earnings jump to $72,438 by year four, a 33% increase that suggests graduates are gaining traction in competitive careers. Among Rhode Island political science programs, Brown ranks at the top by a substantial margin, earning nearly $11,000 more than second-place Providence College. This isn't just the Ivy League premium—these graduates are outperforming 95% of political science programs nationwide.

The debt picture makes this particularly compelling. At $14,481, graduates carry 38% less debt than the typical political science major and roughly half the debt of peers at other Rhode Island schools. That 0.27 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates could theoretically pay off their loans in about three months of gross income—an exceptionally low burden. While only 13% of Brown students receive Pell grants, those who do graduate with manageable debt relative to strong earning potential.

For families who can navigate Brown's 5% admission rate, this program delivers both immediate and growing returns. The combination of top-tier starting salaries, strong earnings growth, and minimal debt makes this one of the safest bets in political science, whether your child plans to pursue law school, policy work, or the private sector.