Political Science and Government at Lewis & Clark College

Lewis & Clark political science graduates earn $38,784 in their first year—solidly above both the national median ($35,627) and Oregon average ($36,022) for the major. That's real money for a field that often struggles to generate immediate returns, and it puts this program ahead of well-known state options like University of Oregon and Portland State. The estimated debt of $24,625 from comparable programs produces a manageable 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would spend less than eight months of gross income paying off loans under standard repayment terms.

The caveat is meaningful: because this specific program's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to publish debt figures, we're relying on national benchmarks from similar private colleges. Lewis & Clark's actual debt could run higher or lower. Still, the earnings advantage appears consistent—this program lands in the 67th percentile nationally, suggesting graduates genuinely do better than most of their peers across the country.

For parents weighing a selective liberal arts college against public alternatives, Lewis & Clark seems to deliver on the promise of better outcomes, at least in immediate post-graduation earning power. The combination of above-average earnings and likely-manageable debt makes this a reasonable investment if your child thrives in smaller academic settings. Just confirm the actual financial aid package before committing, since estimated debt figures can mask significant school-specific variation.