Political Science and Government at Eastern Kentucky University

Eastern Kentucky's political science program sits in an interesting middle ground among Kentucky options, ranking in the 60th percentile statewide—decent, though trailing the state's flagship universities. Graduates start at $35,899, which essentially matches the national median but runs about $4,000 ahead of Kentucky's typical political science grad. More encouraging is the trajectory: earnings jump 32% to $47,215 by year four, a notably stronger growth pattern than many liberal arts degrees show.

The debt picture here actually works better than at most comparable programs. At $21,498, graduates owe slightly less than both state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.6. That's roughly six months of gross income—uncomfortable but far from crushing. For context, EKU's 39% Pell grant population suggests many students are already price-sensitive, and the relatively modest debt load reflects that reality.

The caveat matters: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could heavily influence these medians. But if these numbers hold, this represents a reasonable path for Kentucky students interested in government work or graduate school, particularly those who might struggle with admission or cost at UK or UofL. You're paying significantly less than a flagship experience while ending up in a similar earnings range within a few years.