Political Science and Government at Fairfield University

The small sample size here demands caution, but the trajectory is promising: Fairfield's political science graduates start at $38,426 and jump to nearly $66,000 by year four—a 71% increase that suggests graduates are finding professional roles rather than cycling through entry-level positions. That four-year number exceeds the state median by over $28,000, though it still trails Connecticut's elite programs like Yale and Connecticut College by a significant margin. The $27,000 debt load sits above both state and national medians, but the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable, especially given the strong earnings growth.

Within Connecticut's competitive landscape of 22 programs, Fairfield lands solidly in the middle tier—60th percentile statewide. The first-year earnings look modest compared to what graduates from Yale or even Trinity achieve immediately, which matters if your student needs to start repaying loans right away. However, the four-year data suggests Fairfield graduates are climbing into career-track positions at a healthy pace, likely leveraging the school's northeastern connections and professional networks.

The limited sample means one or two high earners could be skewing these numbers significantly. If your family is considering this program, the investment makes more sense if your student can secure internships or graduate school admission that capitalizes on that earnings momentum. The debt isn't crushing, but it's meaningful enough that you'd want confidence in your child's post-graduate plan.