Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,534
Est. from PA median (28 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$26,000
Est. from PA median (22 programs)

Analysis

A political science bachelor's degree from Geneva College appears to track closely with typical Pennsylvania outcomes, though the actual figures for this specific program aren't publicly available. Based on the state's 28 political science programs with reported data, first-year earnings around $37,500 align almost exactly with Pennsylvania's median—and slightly above the $35,600 national benchmark. The estimated $26,000 in debt also matches what's typical for similar PA programs.

The 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates would need to allocate roughly 69% of their first year's salary to eliminate debt immediately—a manageable but not comfortable position. For context, Pennsylvania's political science programs span a dramatic range: Penn graduates start around $65,000, while this program's estimated trajectory sits in the middle tier alongside many state schools. That gap matters if your child is weighing Geneva against both elite private universities and lower-cost public options.

The practical reality: political science degrees rarely lead to high immediate earnings regardless of where you study, and this program appears representative of that pattern. If your child needs this credential for law school, graduate studies, or public service work, the debt load is reasonable. But if the goal is financial independence right after graduation, $37,500 won't stretch far in covering living expenses while managing loan payments—and that's assuming the estimates hold true for Geneva specifically.

Where Geneva College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (72 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Geneva CollegeBeaver Falls$33,610$37,534*$26,000*
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia$66,104$65,473*$86,353$14,722*0.22
Lehigh UniversityBethlehem$62,180$53,632*$75,918$21,150*0.39
Bucknell UniversityLewisburg$64,772$53,012*$69,853$26,000*0.49
Lafayette CollegeEaston$62,574$48,112*$71,924$13,640*0.28
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$46,549*$72,272$25,620*0.55
National Median$35,627*$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Geneva College, approximately 32% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 28 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.