Political Science and Government at Marquette University

Marquette's political science program starts graduates at a below-average position within Wisconsin—ranking 40th percentile statewide—but delivers something more valuable: exceptional earnings momentum. First-year graduates earn $38,225, trailing UW-Oshkosh and UW-Madison by roughly $4,000. By year four, however, earnings jump 52% to $58,230, surpassing what most Wisconsin political science programs produce at any point.

The debt picture is reasonable at $22,500, slightly better than both state and national medians. That means graduates enter careers with manageable obligations of about 59 cents per dollar earned—well within sustainable territory. The question is whether the relatively modest starting salary creates any financial strain in those early years before the earnings growth kicks in.

This program rewards patience. If your child is willing to work through lower starting pay in exchange for strong mid-career prospects, Marquette outperforms most Wisconsin competitors over time. But if they need higher immediate earnings—perhaps to handle living expenses in Milwaukee or support family—those UW campuses offer $2,000-$4,000 more right out of the gate. The choice depends on whether you're optimizing for year one or year four.