Political Science and Government at California Lutheran University

California Lutheran's political science program sits comfortably above the middle of the pack in California, placing in the 60th percentile among the state's 72 programs—a meaningful distinction in a state where graduates from top programs can earn $45,000-$60,000+ in their first year. Starting at $36,000 and climbing to $48,000 by year four represents solid, if unspectacular, progress. More importantly, the debt load of $21,000 creates a manageable 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below the concerning 1.0 threshold.

The catch here is sample size: with fewer than 30 graduates in this cohort, these figures could shift substantially year to year. A few graduates landing consulting jobs or entering graduate school immediately could skew the numbers upward; a few taking unpaid internships or gap years could drag them down. For context, the program's debt burden is actually higher than California's median of $17,500 for political science majors, though still reasonable in absolute terms.

If your child is serious about political science and wants a smaller school environment, these outcomes suggest graduates can service their debt without struggle. However, be aware that political science careers often require graduate degrees for advancement, which means additional borrowing down the line. The program delivers adequate value, but the small sample means you're working with limited information about consistency.