Political Science and Government at Central Washington University

Central Washington's political science program sits in an interesting middle ground: it beats the national median by about 10%, but trails the typical Washington state outcome by $1,000. Among 16 political science programs in the state, this one lands at the 40th percentile—meaning six out of ten Washington schools produce higher earnings. When you consider that in-state tuition often drives school choice, that's a meaningful comparison point. The top programs in the state (Whitworth, PLU, UW) all see graduates earning $2,000-$4,700 more annually.

The debt picture offers a brighter story. At $16,936, graduates carry about 28% less debt than the national median and significantly less than Washington's typical $20,350. This creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43—under the critical half-your-salary threshold. With starting pay around $39,000, a graduate could realistically tackle this debt within a few years of focused repayment.

The catch: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers. For families prioritizing affordable education with manageable debt, Central Washington delivers on the low-debt promise. But if maximizing earning potential matters most, the gap between this program and Washington's median—let alone its top performers—deserves consideration, especially since the state offers 15 other options.