Political Science and Government at Dartmouth College

Dartmouth's political science graduates earn roughly double what their peers make nationally—$72,618 versus a national median of just $35,627. Even within New Hampshire, where political science programs cluster around $40,000 in starting earnings, Dartmouth's outcomes tower above competitors like Southern New Hampshire and Saint Anselm. This 95th percentile placement both nationally and statewide reflects what you'd expect from a program with a 6% admission rate and sky-high SAT scores.

The debt picture reinforces the value proposition. At $17,500, graduates carry significantly less debt than both the national ($23,500) and state ($27,000) medians for this major. That 0.24 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates can realistically pay off their loans in under four months of gross salary—a luxury few political science majors enjoy anywhere. The 17% earnings growth to nearly $85,000 by year four suggests graduates are landing roles with genuine advancement potential, likely in consulting, policy analysis, or competitive professional pipelines.

For an Ivy League education, this represents exceptional return on investment. The combination of elite-level earnings, below-average debt, and a robust sample size (100+ graduates) makes this one of the clearest value propositions in political science. If your child can gain admission and you're weighing whether the liberal arts are worth it at this price point, these numbers offer strong reassurance.