Political Science and Government at Misericordia University

Misericordia's political science program produces graduates earning slightly above both the national and Pennsylvania medians—but those earnings show troubling stagnation. At $37,560 four years out, graduates are making essentially the same as they did right after graduation, suggesting limited career advancement or upward mobility in their first few years in the workforce.

The debt load of $27,000 is notably reasonable, resulting in a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio that's manageable compared to many liberal arts programs. However, the lack of earnings growth raises questions about what career paths graduates are finding. Political science typically opens doors to government, nonprofits, advocacy, and business roles—fields where you'd expect at least modest salary progression. The flat trajectory here might indicate graduates are settling into entry-level positions without clear advancement, or that many are in fields with compressed salary structures.

For an accessible regional university charging relatively modest tuition, this isn't a terrible outcome—your child won't be buried in debt. But if they're serious about a political science degree, they should think carefully about their post-graduation plan. Without law school, graduate education, or strategic networking into competitive entry-level positions, the earnings ceiling appears lower than many families might hope. The program performs solidly within Pennsylvania's middle tier, but falls far short of what selective institutions like Penn or Lehigh achieve, suggesting that credential strength matters significantly in this field.