Political Science and Government at Concordia College at Moorhead

A $27,000 first-year salary places Concordia's political science graduates well below typical expectations—roughly $8,000 behind the Minnesota median and in the bottom 5% nationally. While that 65% earnings jump to $45,000 by year four is impressive on paper, it likely reflects the reality that many graduates need time to find positions that actually use their degrees. Even that fourth-year figure trails what graduates from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities or Macalester earn right out of the gate.

The debt load compounds the challenge. At $27,000, it nearly equals that first-year salary, creating real financial strain during those crucial early career years when earnings are lowest. Compare this to similar programs across Minnesota, where typical debt sits around $23,000, and the financial pressure becomes clearer. The small sample size here does warrant caution—individual career paths can vary dramatically with fewer than 30 graduates tracked—but the pattern suggests graduates face a longer, harder climb than peers at comparable Minnesota colleges.

If your child is set on political science, push them to articulate specific career plans that justify this investment. Without graduate school or strategic internships lined up, those first few years post-graduation will likely require significant family support or careful budgeting to manage the debt payments.