Political Science and Government at Central Methodist University-College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Is $24,000 in debt reasonable for a political science degree that, based on comparable Missouri programs, leads to roughly $37,000 in first-year earnings? The 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio sits comfortably within manageable territory—similar to what you'd see at Missouri's public universities, where actual reported outcomes for poli-sci grads cluster in the $35,000-$40,000 range. Central Methodist's accessible admissions (88% acceptance rate, substantial Pell enrollment) suggest this program serves students who might not have flagship university options, and the estimated debt burden doesn't appear excessive for that mission.

The caveat here is real: we're working with estimates derived from peer programs because Central Methodist's graduating class in political science is too small for the Department of Education to publish. That small cohort size itself tells you something—this isn't a major department churning out dozens of graduates annually. Whether that means more personalized attention or fewer program resources depends on what you find when you visit campus and talk to current students.

Given that similar Missouri programs produce earnings within a tight $35,000-$40,000 band, the estimated figures here align with state norms. But parents should verify current outcomes directly with the school and understand what most political science graduates actually do after graduation—many enter fields requiring graduate degrees or start in lower-paying nonprofit and government work where that debt load, while manageable, will require careful budgeting.