Political Science and Government at Ithaca College

A starting salary of $28,846 for political science graduates from Ithaca College falls significantly short of what students earn elsewhere—about $6,300 below the New York state median and nearly $7,000 below the national average. This places graduates in the bottom quarter of political science programs statewide, despite the college's selective reputation and $78,000+ sticker price.

The debt load of $19,500 looks manageable on paper, but context matters: it's lower than typical because these figures only capture federal loans, not private borrowing many students need to afford Ithaca. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68, graduates are starting their careers with debt equal to two-thirds of their first-year salary—a tight squeeze when you're making less than $29,000. Just 19% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting most families are paying substantial amounts out-of-pocket for outcomes that trail SUNY options by wide margins.

The small sample size here is worth noting—fewer than 30 graduates provided data—so individual circumstances could be skewing results. However, the gap between Ithaca and New York's top liberal arts colleges (where political science grads earn $56,000-$61,000) reveals what this degree typically delivers. Unless your child has specific reasons to attend Ithaca—particular professors, combined programs, or scholarships that dramatically reduce cost—this program struggles to justify its price tag based on early career returns.