Political Science and Government at Montclair State University

Montclair State's political science program starts with a troubling figure: graduates earn just $26,704 in their first year—ranking in the bottom 5% nationally and well below New Jersey's median of $35,610. Even among New Jersey's 22 political science programs, this lands at the 25th percentile, trailing not just Princeton's elite outcomes but also all three Rutgers campuses by roughly $13,000 annually.

The earnings picture does improve dramatically, more than doubling to $54,399 by year four. This recovery suggests graduates may be entering graduate programs or internships initially before moving into career-track positions. However, that first-year struggle creates real financial stress: with $26,000 in debt and barely enough income to cover basic living expenses, graduates face a difficult launch period where loan payments could consume a substantial portion of their paycheck.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether their student has a clear post-graduation plan—whether that's grad school, law school, or specific public sector pathways—that can weather that first year. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means these numbers are reasonably reliable. If your child is exploring political science more generally or hoping to land immediately in a paying career, stronger New Jersey options exist at similar or lower tuition rates, particularly within the Rutgers system.