Political Science and Government at Loyola University Chicago

Loyola's political science program shows exactly what worries parents about liberal arts degrees—until you look at year four. That initial $37,007 salary sits just slightly above the state median, which isn't inspiring given Loyola's $23,250 in typical debt. But the 58% earnings jump to $58,590 by year four tells a different story, suggesting graduates are successfully transitioning into careers where their political science background pays dividends.

Within Illinois, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, placing it solidly in the middle of the pack—well below University of Chicago and Northwestern's $54,000+ outcomes, but ahead of the state median. The debt load is actually slightly lower than the Illinois average for political science programs, making that 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio more manageable than the first-year numbers suggest. By year four, students are earning more than twice their debt burden, which represents reasonable financial footing.

The real question is whether your student can navigate those lean first couple of years. Political science graduates often need time to break into policy roles, advocacy positions, or graduate programs where the degree becomes more valuable. If your child has a plan for that initial period—whether through family support, part-time work, or strategic job targeting—the trajectory looks promising. Without that runway, the starting salary could create difficult financial pressure.