Political Science and Government at Monmouth University

Monmouth's political science graduates start well behind their peers—earning just over $30,000 in the first year, roughly $5,000 below both state and national medians. Within New Jersey's 22 political science programs, this ranks exactly at the middle of the pack (40th percentile), but that's cold comfort when competing programs like Rutgers and The College of New Jersey consistently produce graduates earning $40,000 or more right out of the gate.

The silver lining is trajectory: earnings jump 76% by year four to reach $53,500, which represents solid recovery. However, this growth trajectory doesn't change the fundamental economics for families borrowing to pay for this degree. At $27,000 in debt—slightly above the state median—graduates face nearly a full year's starting salary in loans. For context, Princeton's political science graduates earn more than twice as much initially, though that's admittedly an elite comparison.

The practical concern here is the four-year gap between degree completion and financially comfortable earnings. Parents should expect to provide some financial support during those lean early years, particularly if their child plans to work in government or non-profit sectors where entry-level pay is notoriously low. If your child is certain about political science, the in-state Rutgers campuses offer stronger initial earnings at similar debt levels.