Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degree) at Dominican University of California

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$35,297

Est. from CA median (45 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$23,313

Est. from CA median (18 programs)

Analysis

California political science graduates from comparable programs typically earn around $35,000 in their first year—placing these outcomes right at both state and national medians for the field. For a bachelor's degree requiring an estimated $23,300 in debt, that's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, which sits in manageable territory compared to many liberal arts programs. However, the debt estimate comes from similar private schools in California, where loan burdens can vary significantly depending on financial aid packages.

What complicates the picture is the competitive landscape in the Bay Area. Top programs at Stanford and UC Berkeley produce graduates earning $45,000 to $59,000 in their first year—substantially more than what peer institutions suggest for Dominican's outcomes. Political science degrees often serve as launching pads for law school, graduate programs, or public service careers where initial earnings understate long-term potential, but that first-year salary matters when you're immediately facing loan payments.

The practical reality: if your child is planning graduate school, that $23,000 in undergraduate debt becomes the foundation of a larger debt stack. If they're heading straight to work in advocacy, government, or nonprofits, $35,000 salaries are standard but leave little room for aggressive loan repayment. Before committing, compare the actual financial aid offer against what state schools might cost—California's public universities could deliver similar early-career outcomes with potentially less debt.

Where Dominican University of California Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (72 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Dominican University of CaliforniaSan Rafael	$50,666	$35,297*	—	$23,313*	—
Stanford UniversityStanford	$62,484	$59,297*	$75,464	$12,000*	0.20
Santa Clara UniversitySanta Clara	$59,241	$57,111*	$64,616	$21,750*	0.38
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$55,196*	$38,857	$32,813*	0.59
University of California-BerkeleyBerkeley	$14,850	$45,418*	$62,430	$13,000*	0.29
Saint Mary's College of CaliforniaMoraga	$56,134	$45,296*	$68,762	$25,967*	0.57
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 Dominican University of California, approximately 30% 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 45 similar programs in CA. Actual outcomes may vary.