Political Science and Government at Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College's political science graduates earn just under both the Illinois and national medians, landing in the 40th percentile statewide—middling results for a program at a selective liberal arts college. First-year earnings of $34,317 trail not just elite programs like University of Chicago ($56,022) but also large public universities like UIC ($38,363), raising questions about whether the private school premium translates to career outcomes in this field.

The upside? Graduates carry notably less debt than typical—$27,000 versus the state median of $24,562 and national median of $23,500, placing this program in the 5th percentile nationally for debt burden. That relatively modest debt load creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.79, meaning graduates can reasonably expect to service their loans on entry-level salaries. For families concerned about debt spirals, this matters more than it might appear at first glance.

The major caveat: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, so one or two outliers could significantly skew the picture. If your child is genuinely passionate about political science and Lake Forest's small liberal arts environment, the contained debt makes this a less risky bet than many pricier alternatives. But if career earnings are the priority, Illinois offers stronger-performing options at both ends of the price spectrum.