Political Science and Government at Clark University

Clark University's political science program shows what might seem like an encouraging earnings trajectory—graduates move from $33,625 to over $51,000 within four years. But that initial figure tells a different story when compared against Massachusetts standards. This program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Bay State political science programs, falling nearly $10,000 short of the state median and sitting far below regional powerhouses like Tufts ($67,713) and Harvard ($61,543). Even the national comparison is lukewarm, landing at the 38th percentile.

The $26,000 debt load is reasonable and below both national and state medians for this field. That 0.77 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates start with manageable obligations. The real question is whether that growth trajectory continues upward or levels off after year four—common in liberal arts degrees where early career advancement can plateau without graduate credentials or specialized skills.

For Massachusetts families, this is a tough sell. You're paying for a selective private school experience (42% admission rate, 1339 average SAT) but getting below-average in-state outcomes for political science. Unless your child has specific reasons to choose Clark—particular professors, research opportunities, or Worcester connections—the financial case weakens when compared to what else Massachusetts offers at similar or lower costs.