Political Science and Government at Lincoln University

This program's graduates earn $26,037 in their first year—about $11,500 less than Pennsylvania's median for political science majors and nearly $10,000 below the national average. That 10th percentile ranking within Pennsylvania is stark when you consider that even the state median trails far behind elite programs like Penn or Lehigh. With debt slightly above both state and national medians, graduates face a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.09, meaning they owe more than their entire first year's salary.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing dramatically year to year, but the consistent message is concerning: Lincoln serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (66%) yet produces some of the lowest political science earnings in Pennsylvania. For context, political science is already a lower-earning major nationally, with a median around $35,600—so starting at $26,000 offers very little cushion for debt repayment or living expenses.

If your child is considering political science, understand that this program combines below-average earnings with above-average debt in a field where graduate school is often necessary for career advancement. Unless there are compelling financial aid considerations making Lincoln essentially free, look closely at Pennsylvania state schools or regional universities where political science graduates typically earn $10,000+ more annually right out of college.