Political Science and Government at Eastern Illinois University

Eastern Illinois University's political science graduates earn about $6,000 less than the typical Illinois poli sci graduate—a significant gap that places this program in the bottom quarter statewide. That first-year salary of $28,721 leaves graduates with an 86-cent debt burden for every dollar earned, making this one of the tougher financial starts among Illinois political science programs. The debt itself isn't unusually high, but when paired with below-average earnings, the monthly payment burden becomes real.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift dramatically year to year, so they're more of a warning signal than a definitive verdict. Still, even accounting for statistical noise, the pattern is concerning: graduates are earning roughly $7,000 below the national median for this major and substantially less than peers at comparable Illinois public universities like UIC ($38,363).

For a parent considering this program, the key question is whether your student has specific connections or career plans that justify the earnings gap. Political science majors often pursue graduate school, public service, or nonprofit work where first-year earnings don't tell the whole story. But if your child is borrowing $25,000 and needs that bachelor's degree to lead directly to financial independence, stronger-performing options exist within Illinois's public university system without necessarily adding significant cost.