Political Science and Government at Francis Marion University

Francis Marion's political science program produces concerning first-year outcomes that fall well below what students can expect elsewhere in South Carolina. At $24,289, graduates earn roughly $9,500 less than the state median for political science majors and land in just the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of comparable programs produce better initial earnings. Even within South Carolina's market, this ranks only at the 25th percentile, with schools like The Citadel and USC-Upstate delivering significantly stronger returns.

The debt load of $27,000 is close to state and national norms, which creates an uncomfortable squeeze: graduates face typical student loan payments while earning substantially less than their peers. That 1.11 debt-to-earnings ratio means taking on more debt than a full year's salary, making loan repayment particularly challenging in those crucial early career years. The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means individual circumstances heavily influence these numbers, but the pattern is stark enough to warrant serious attention.

For families considering this program, the comparison to other South Carolina options is especially relevant since in-state tuition makes state schools natural alternatives. When nearby programs consistently produce 40-50% higher starting salaries with similar debt loads, that's a meaningful difference in quality of life during loan repayment years. Unless Francis Marion offers specific connections or opportunities unavailable elsewhere, parents should explore other political science programs within South Carolina's public university system.