Political Science and Government at Indiana University-Bloomington

Indiana University-Bloomington's political science program shows an unusual trajectory: graduates start below both state and national medians at $32,568, but by year four they're earning $56,470—well above typical outcomes for this major. That 73% earnings growth suggests the IU network and credential open doors that take a few years to materialize. The modest debt load of $17,951 (well below the $25,686 state median) means graduates can weather those leaner early years without financial strain.

The catch is that starting salary. At the 40th percentile among Indiana political science programs, IU trails not just Notre Dame but also Ball State and Purdue by $7,000+ in year one. For students who need immediate earning power—to support family or pay living expenses—that gap matters. The program seems geared toward careers in government, nonprofits, or graduate school pipelines where early compensation is deliberately suppressed but mid-career prospects improve.

If your child has financial cushion for those first few years after graduation and clear plans for how to leverage the degree (law school, public service, campaign work), the combination of reasonable debt and strong four-year earnings makes this workable. But if they're considering political science as a general liberal arts path without specific career direction, the slow start and high admission rate (80%) suggest they should have a concrete plan for translating the degree into employment.