Political Science and Government at Grand Canyon University

Grand Canyon University's political science program produces surprisingly strong early outcomes for Arizona, with graduates earning $37,704—matching the state median and landing in the 60th percentile nationally. That beats University of Arizona ($36,193) and Northern Arizona University ($35,220) by meaningful margins, though it trails ASU's $42,481. The real standout here is debt: at $27,000, GCU loads students with 22% more debt than the typical Arizona political science major, placing it in just the 5th percentile nationally for affordability.

The 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in workable territory—graduates owe roughly nine months of their first-year salary. But this matters more for political science than many fields, since these graduates often pursue public sector work, nonprofit roles, or graduate school, where that extra $5,000 in debt compounds over years of lower earning potential. Given that 43% of GCU students receive Pell grants, many families are already stretching financially.

For Arizona families, this represents a middle-ground option: better earnings than two of the state's public universities, but at a steeper price than the state average. If your child is committed to political science and hasn't secured admission to ASU, GCU delivers competitive outcomes. Just ensure they understand that $27,000 in debt for a sub-$38,000 starting salary means tight budgeting in those crucial first years after graduation.