Political Science and Government at Cairn University-Langhorne

Pennsylvania's political science programs show a striking earning gap—while elite institutions like Penn and Lehigh send graduates into the job market earning $50,000 to $65,000, the typical program across the state produces first-year earnings around $37,500. Based on comparable programs in Pennsylvania, Cairn's political science graduates likely fall into this middle tier, with estimated earnings of about $37,500 against roughly $26,000 in debt. That 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio sits just above the national debt median of $23,500, meaning you're looking at moderate borrowing for moderate returns.

The challenge here is that political science bachelor's degrees often serve as a stepping stone rather than a direct career path. Similar programs in Pennsylvania suggest earnings that barely exceed $37,500 in year one—functional, but not comfortable, especially when mandatory loan payments kick in. If your child plans to pursue graduate school (law, public policy, or business), that $26,000 in undergraduate debt becomes the first layer of a much larger borrowing picture.

The practical question: can your family access Cairn's program at a lower cost than $26,000? With 30% of students on Pell grants and an 84% admission rate, there may be room for merit aid or need-based assistance. If you can reduce that debt load to $20,000 or below, the estimated outcomes look more manageable. Above $30,000, you're betting on your child outperforming typical results in a field where early earnings often disappoint.