Political Science and Government at Lebanon Valley College

In Pennsylvania, political science programs produce widely divergent outcomes—from $65,000 at Penn to closer to $35,000 at many state schools. Based on peer programs across Pennsylvania, Lebanon Valley's political science graduates likely face a challenging initial financial picture: estimated first-year earnings around $37,500 against an estimated $26,000 in debt. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69 isn't alarming on its face, but it's worth noting that similar programs nationally carry a median debt of $23,500, suggesting graduates here may be borrowing slightly more than typical for outcomes that track closely with state and national medians.

The real question is whether this program can justify its private school price tag when the estimated earnings place it squarely in the middle of Pennsylvania's range—well below the elite privates like Bucknell ($53,000) or Lafayette ($48,000) that dominate the top of the earnings distribution. Political science is often a stepping stone to graduate school, which could improve long-term prospects but also means additional debt before meaningful earnings begin.

For parents footing the bill, the key consideration is whether Lebanon Valley offers unique opportunities—internships, faculty connections, graduate school placement—that aren't captured in these first-year figures. If your child is committed to political science and isn't headed to one of the top-tier Pennsylvania programs, understand that the initial payoff will be modest, making loan minimization the smartest strategy.