Political Science and Government at Missouri Southern State University

Is the return on a Political Science degree sufficient when you're borrowing over $22,000? Similar programs in Missouri suggest first-year earnings around $37,000, putting this just above the national median for the field. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.61 means graduates would owe roughly seven months of their annual income—manageable if they secure steady employment, but tight given that political science degrees often require graduate school or lead to lower-paying nonprofit and public sector work.

The estimation here matters because with just six comparable programs statewide providing earnings data, we're working with a thin picture. Missouri's political science programs cluster tightly between $36,000 and $40,000 in first-year earnings, so there's reason to believe this estimate is reliable. The debt figure, drawn from seven similar Missouri Southern programs, aligns closely with both state and national norms for the major.

What this means practically: your child would need to land a job quickly and avoid graduate school debt to make the numbers work comfortably. Political science graduates often spend time in internships or entry-level positions before career earnings materialize. If your student is drawn to public service or advocacy work—common paths for this major—those early-career salaries may come in below these estimates, making even moderate debt feel heavier than expected.