Political Science and Government at Georgia College & State University

Georgia College's political science program starts modestly but shows compelling growth potential, with earnings jumping 60% from $34,321 to $55,013 between years one and four. While the initial salary trails the national average slightly, graduates' mid-career earnings pull meaningfully ahead. Within Georgia, this program outperforms 60% of competitors despite coming from a less selective institution—beating larger schools like Georgia State and Clayton State—and graduates carry $3,600 less debt than the typical Georgia political science student.

The debt burden here looks manageable: at $21,965, it's less than two-thirds of first-year earnings, and by year four, graduates are earning more than 2.5 times what they owe. That's a solid foundation for someone planning graduate school (common in political science) or entering state government work in the Atlanta area.

The caveat: these figures come from a small sample size, meaning one or two graduates' outcomes heavily influence the averages. Still, the pattern is encouraging—this appears to offer a practical path to a political science degree without the premium price tag of Georgia's flagship programs, particularly for students who value hands-on experience in the state capital environment that Milledgeville provides.