Political Science and Government at Hobart William Smith Colleges

A $27,000 debt load for a starting salary of $35,381 puts Hobart William Smith's political science program in a manageable position—the 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates owe less than one year's salary, which is reasonable for a liberal arts degree. More notably, this program carries unusually low debt: it ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally for student borrowing, meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more debt. For families worried about over-borrowing, this is a significant advantage.

The earnings picture is more nuanced. First-year salaries land right at the national median but slightly above New York's median—ranking in the 60th percentile statewide is respectable given that the state's top programs (Columbia, Cornell, Hamilton) serve different student markets and command substantially higher salaries. The moderate sample size suggests this data is reasonably reliable, though not definitive.

The real question is whether your child can leverage this degree into graduate school, law school, or public sector roles where political science majors typically build their careers. If they're planning to work immediately after graduation without further education, the $35,000 starting salary will feel tight, even with manageable debt. But if this is a stepping stone to further credentials, the low debt burden becomes a genuine advantage—they won't be squeezed financially while pursuing advanced degrees.