Political Science and Government at Hamline University

Hamline's political science program sits solidly in the middle of Minnesota's offerings, outperforming the state median by nearly $4,000 in first-year earnings and placing in the 60th percentile statewide. That's a meaningful advantage over most Minnesota programs, though graduates still trail the state's top schools like Minnesota-Twin Cities ($40,208) and Macalester ($39,439) by roughly $4,000-$5,000 initially.

The real story here is the earnings trajectory. That 38% jump from $35,354 to $48,858 over four years suggests graduates are finding their footing in careers that value the analytical and communication skills political science builds. The $20,500 debt load is notably lower than both the state median ($23,079) and national median ($23,500), creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58. For context, many liberal arts graduates carry significantly more debt with similar starting salaries.

The significant caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual career outcomes could vary substantially from these medians. But if your child is drawn to policy, advocacy, or public sector work and wants to stay in Minnesota, Hamline delivers comparable preparation to peer schools at a lower debt cost. The key question isn't whether the program itself performs adequately—it does—but whether political science aligns with their career goals, since even strong earnings growth in this field may not match STEM or business trajectories.