Political Science and Government at Hendrix College

The $24,625 in estimated debt sits above both state and national medians for political science degrees, while peer programs suggest first-year earnings around $35,600—creating a debt load that would require roughly 69% of that first salary to clear. That's manageable compared to some fields, but it's worth noting that other political science programs in Arkansas typically see lower debt loads, around $21,000. The selective admissions (SAT averaging 1336) and relatively low Pell percentage suggest Hendrix draws students with stronger financial resources, which matters when a liberal arts degree requires patience to pay off.

Political science graduates nationally cluster in the low-to-mid $30,000s initially, and Arkansas programs confirm this pattern. The University of Arkansas graduates earned about $33,700 in their first year—close to what comparable programs suggest for Hendrix. The challenge isn't that the degree performs poorly; it's that these humanities-focused credentials rarely deliver immediate financial returns regardless of where you earn them. If your child plans to pursue law school, public policy graduate work, or positions that value critical thinking over technical skills, the degree can be a solid foundation. If they need to service debt immediately after graduation, this estimated debt-to-earnings picture signals a tight few years ahead, especially since entry-level political science roles rarely command premium salaries.