Political Science and Government at Clark Atlanta University

Clark Atlanta University's Political Science program shows a troubling start but impressive recovery trajectory. First-year graduates earn just $28,554—putting them in the bottom 15% nationally and well below Georgia's state median of $32,340. Combined with $27,000 in debt (actually higher than the national median), new graduates face a debt burden nearly equal to their entire first year's salary. For context, Emory and UGA political science graduates start $11,000-$18,000 higher.

However, the 54% earnings jump to $43,992 by year four is noteworthy and suggests graduates eventually find their footing in Atlanta's public sector, nonprofit, or corporate environment. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could vary significantly year to year, and the program serves a predominantly lower-income student body (69% receiving Pell grants), which may explain some of the initial earnings lag.

The question for parents: can your student manage two or three lean years after graduation while building toward that better mid-career outcome? If they're taking on the full $27,000 in loans without family financial support, those first years will be financially tight. Students with lower debt loads or family assistance to bridge the early career gap may find this path more viable than the year-one numbers suggest.