Political Science and Government at Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney's political science program lags behind Virginia's strong field, with graduates earning $37,123—about $4,400 below the state median and placing in just the 40th percentile among Virginia programs. That's a significant gap in a state where schools like Liberty, UVA, and George Mason consistently place graduates above $45,000. While the program does edge out the national median by about $1,500, that's cold comfort when Virginia competitors are setting a much higher bar.

The $27,000 in median debt is reasonable and ranks exceptionally well nationally (5th percentile), suggesting the college manages financial aid effectively despite being a private institution. The 0.73 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within workable territory, though the relatively modest starting salary means graduates will still feel the monthly payment burden more acutely than peers at higher-earning Virginia programs.

The critical caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, these numbers could shift considerably with a different cohort. For a family weighing Hampden-Sydney against other Virginia options, the question becomes whether the school's distinctive all-male, liberal arts environment justifies accepting earnings that trail state averages by 10%. If your student is set on this specific institutional culture, the debt load won't sink them. But if career earnings are the priority, Virginia offers multiple political science programs with demonstrably stronger outcomes.