Political Science and Government at Eastern Oregon University

Oregon's political science programs cluster tightly around $36,000 in first-year earnings, and Eastern Oregon University appears positioned right at that median based on peer school outcomes. The estimated $24,000 debt load sits near both state and national norms, producing a manageable 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio—meaning graduates would owe roughly eight months of their first year's salary.

The honest question is whether these economics make sense for a degree that rarely leads directly to high-paying work without graduate school. Similar Oregon programs show remarkably consistent outcomes regardless of selectivity: Oregon State's graduates earn just $3,000 more annually than those from Portland State, and Lewis & Clark's private school premium buys essentially the same starting salary. This suggests the degree's value comes more from what students do with it—law school, public service, advocacy work—than from the credential itself.

For a family considering this path, the numbers work if your student has a clear plan beyond the bachelor's degree or accepts that $36,000 represents a launching point rather than a destination. The debt won't be crushing, but it also won't be offset by immediate earnings growth that some professional degrees deliver. If your child is committed to political science specifically, Eastern Oregon's accessibility (99% admission rate) and relatively affordable debt load make it a reasonable option, but only if they understand they're buying time to build skills and networks, not a ticket to immediate financial independence.