Political Science and Government at Creighton University

Creighton's political science program tracks almost exactly with national earnings at $35,311, landing just below the national median by about $300. Within Nebraska, it performs slightly better—60th percentile among state schools—though this advantage largely reflects how clustered earnings are for this major statewide. UNL graduates earn about $1,000 more annually, while Creighton edges out UNO by roughly $1,600.

The debt picture looks reasonable on paper: $24,625 translates to a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio, which won't crush your child financially in their first few years. However, context matters here. Creighton's private school tuition means your family is paying significantly more than what a student would pay at UNL (a public university), yet the graduate earnings barely differ. Only 5% of Creighton students receive Pell grants, suggesting the student body skews toward families who can absorb higher costs more easily.

The sample size caveat is important—with fewer than 30 graduates in this data, one or two unusual outcomes could skew these numbers considerably. But the core question remains: for a political science degree with middling earnings potential, does Creighton's environment justify the premium over state schools? If your child is passionate about the major and your family values Creighton's Jesuit education and smaller campus, the debt level is manageable. If you're cost-conscious, UNL delivers nearly identical financial outcomes at a fraction of the price.