Political Science and Government at Georgia Southern University

Georgia Southern's political science program starts slow but shows impressive growth potential—earnings jump 66% by year four to reach $50,584. That's well above the national and state medians for the field, suggesting graduates find their footing after an admittedly rough first year. The initial $30,407 salary is below what most Georgia political science grads earn, but the four-year trajectory tells a different story about long-term prospects.

The debt picture is actually the program's strongest selling point. At $27,243, students here borrow slightly more than the typical Georgia political science major but considerably less than many peers. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.90, graduates can realistically manage these loans even during that challenging first year. This is meaningful when comparing to Georgia's top programs—your child won't graduate with Emory-level debt while still reaching solid mid-career earnings.

The real question is whether your child can weather that first year or two of below-average pay. Political science grads often need time to leverage their degree through grad school, government work, or climbing organizational ladders. If they're prepared for a modest start and have a plan for those early years, the combination of manageable debt and strong earnings growth makes this a reasonable path. Just understand they'll likely need family support or supplemental work initially.