Political Science and Government at Hollins University

Based on comparable political science programs across Virginia, first-year earnings around $41,500 paired with estimated debt of $27,000 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65—below the 1.0 threshold that financial aid experts consider sustainable. Similar programs in Virginia typically produce salaries that align closely with this estimate, though top programs like Liberty and UVA pull ahead by about $4,000-$5,000 annually.

The debt figure warrants attention: at $27,000, it sits above both the state median ($23,750) and national median ($23,500) for political science bachelor's degrees. For a program where peer institutions suggest earnings in the low-$40,000s, that extra borrowing narrows the financial cushion graduates need for loan payments, which could run roughly $300 monthly on a standard repayment plan. That's not devastating, but it's meaningful when starting salaries leave limited room for error.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With both earnings and debt figures estimated from other Virginia programs rather than Hollins-specific outcomes, you're making a financial decision with blurry data. If your child is committed to political science specifically and values Hollins' environment, the estimated numbers suggest workability rather than red flags. But if they're still exploring majors or comparing schools, you'd want to see actual graduate outcomes—or at minimum, understand why similar programs produce the range they do—before committing to debt at the higher end of the state's spectrum.