Political Science and Government at Fitchburg State University

At $29,600 in first-year earnings, Fitchburg State's political science program lands in the bottom 10% among Massachusetts programs and near the bottom fifth nationally. This is concerning: graduates here earn 31% less than the typical Massachusetts poli sci graduate and 17% below the national median. When most local programs produce mid-$40,000 outcomes, this gap represents real money—roughly $13,000 less per year than the state median.

The debt picture offers limited consolation. While the $23,665 in borrowing sits near national averages, it still represents 80% of first-year earnings. That's a tight squeeze for graduates likely entering public sector or nonprofit roles where salary growth can be gradual. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift significantly year to year, but the state percentile ranking suggests a consistent pattern of underperformance relative to other Massachusetts institutions.

For an anxious parent, the key question is whether Fitchburg State's 90% admission rate and presumably lower tuition justify these below-average outcomes. If your child can access programs at UMass or other state schools producing mid-$40,000 earnings, that would represent a substantially better starting point. Political science already requires strategic career planning—starting from the bottom decile of Massachusetts programs makes that challenge harder.