Political Science and Government at Clayton State University

Clayton State's political science program produces graduates earning $28,784 in their first year—about $3,500 below the Georgia median and nearly $7,000 below the national average. What makes this particularly challenging is the $30,500 in debt, which is actually among the highest in the state for this field. While first-year earnings barely exceed the debt load (1.06 ratio), this creates a tight financial situation right out of college when graduates are also facing rent, transportation, and other basic expenses.

The program does rank at the 40th percentile within Georgia, placing it in the middle of the state pack, but context matters here. Georgia's top political science programs—at Emory, UGA, and even regional schools like Kennesaw State—deliver substantially better outcomes, with graduates earning $8,000 to $18,000 more annually. Clayton State serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (52%), and while access is important, the combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt could make repayment difficult for first-generation college students.

An important caveat: the sample size here is small (under 30 graduates), so these numbers could shift significantly year to year. If your student is seriously considering this program, ask the department about typical career paths and whether graduates pursue further education. For political science specifically, many students need graduate degrees to reach higher earning potential, which would mean taking on additional debt before seeing better returns.