Political Science and Government at Merrimack College

Merrimack's political science program operates in one of the most competitive markets in the country—Massachusetts—and the numbers reveal a significant gap. While first-year earnings of $35,619 align with the national median, they fall well below the state median of $43,010, landing in just the 25th percentile among Massachusetts programs. When your neighbors include Tufts grads earning $67,713 and even mid-tier state competitors clearing $43,000, that $7,400 earnings disadvantage becomes material in a high cost-of-living state.

The debt picture provides some relief: at $27,000, it's modest compared to both national and state benchmarks, ranking in the 5th percentile for indebtedness. The 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, meaning graduates could theoretically pay off loans within a year or two of aggressive budgeting. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means these figures could shift considerably with more data.

For a Massachusetts family, this creates a clear tradeoff: reasonable debt but below-average earnings in a state where political science grads typically do better. If your child is considering this program, the admission rate suggests access isn't an issue—but you'll want to understand why Merrimack grads aren't capturing the same opportunities as peers at state universities or comparable private schools who are starting $7,000+ ahead.