Political Science and Government at Illinois State University

Illinois State's political science program makes up for a sluggish start with impressive earnings growth. First-year graduates earn $34,519—below the national median for political science majors—but by year four, earnings jump 50% to $51,900. That's well above both the national average and puts this program in the 60th percentile among Illinois schools, despite ISU's 89% admission rate and modest SAT scores.

The $22,201 median debt sits below both state and national averages, which matters when evaluating the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.64. While that first-year number looks tight, graduates who stick with their field or pursue graduate education (common paths for political science majors) see substantial income growth. This pattern suggests the program provides networking opportunities or career development support that pays off over time, even if the immediate post-grad job market is challenging.

For families concerned about affordability, this represents a solid middle-ground option—especially for in-state students. You won't match the elite Chicago-area schools that produce graduates earning $15,000-20,000 more annually, but you're not taking on significantly more debt to try. The relatively low debt load gives graduates flexibility to pursue graduate school, public service, or competitive entry-level positions without crushing loan payments limiting their choices.