Political Science and Government at Macalester College

Macalester's political science program produces earnings that meaningfully exceed both Minnesota and national medians—$39,439 versus $35,104 in-state and $35,627 nationally. That 60th percentile ranking among Minnesota programs puts it behind the University of Minnesota system but competitive with peer liberal arts colleges, while nearly $24,000 in debt sits right at typical levels for this field.

The 21% earnings growth over four years shows graduates finding their footing, though it's worth noting that even at year four, the $47,677 salary means this degree functions as a stepping stone rather than a direct path to high income. For a selective school (28% admission rate), these outcomes reflect political science's broader reality: the major rarely leads to lucrative first jobs regardless of where you study it. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59 is manageable but not exceptional.

The real question is whether your child plans to pursue graduate school, which most successful political science graduates eventually do. If law school, public policy programs, or similar paths are on the horizon, Macalester's strong academic reputation matters more than these early-career numbers suggest. But if they're hoping to launch a career straight from their bachelor's degree, understand that $39,000 starting salaries will require careful budgeting, even with moderate debt loads.