Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,759
Est. from CO median (8 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$24,625
Est. from national median (223 programs)

Analysis

Colorado's competitive political science landscape makes it hard to assess Colorado Christian University's specific value without reported outcomes. Based on peer programs across the state, first-year earnings around $37,800 would put this program squarely at the state median—though notably behind Colorado's top public universities where recent grads are clearing $40,000. The estimated $24,600 in debt sits above Colorado's typical $20,700 for political science programs, though the resulting 0.65 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable compared to many liberal arts degrees.

The challenge here is uncertainty. Similar programs in Colorado span a wide range, from Metropolitan State's strong outcomes to smaller schools with less visibility. Without knowing where Colorado Christian's graduates actually land—whether in Denver's nonprofit sector, government positions, or graduate school—it's difficult to gauge whether this premium over state debt norms delivers corresponding value. For a family evaluating a $100,000+ investment, that gap matters.

If your student is committed to Colorado Christian's faith-based environment, these estimates suggest workable debt levels rather than a crisis. But push the school for clearer information: placement rates, alumni outcomes, graduate school acceptance rates. For a political science degree where the institution's network and internship connections often matter more than the curriculum itself, you need to know what this specific program actually delivers.

Where Colorado Christian University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Colorado

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Colorado (16 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Colorado Christian UniversityLakewood$39,266$37,759*$24,625*
University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusDenver$10,017$40,272*$58,929$21,066*0.52
University of Colorado BoulderBoulder$16,430$39,954*$60,121$19,500*0.49
Metropolitan State University of DenverDenver$10,780$39,920*$44,120$23,500*0.59
University of DenverDenver$59,340$38,059*$57,491$22,000*0.58
University of Northern ColoradoGreeley$12,010$37,458*$45,185$20,250*0.54
National Median$35,627*$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Colorado Christian University, approximately 33% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 8 similar programs in CO. Actual outcomes may vary.