Political Science and Government at Moravian University

A $26,000 debt load positions Moravian favorably—it's actually lower than the typical political science graduate in Pennsylvania carries. The estimated first-year earnings of around $37,500 align with what peer programs across the state produce, putting the debt-to-earnings ratio at a manageable 0.69. For context, Moravian's debt figure sits at the 25th percentile nationally, meaning three-quarters of political science programs nationwide send students out with more debt.

The challenge here is that political science bachelor's degrees rarely command high starting salaries anywhere. Even Pennsylvania's top-performing programs—places like Lehigh and Bucknell that push graduates past $50,000—still produce modest returns compared to professional or technical fields. The gap between Moravian's estimated outcomes and these elite institutions reflects both selectivity differences and the broader reality that entry-level positions in government, nonprofits, and related sectors simply don't pay well initially.

For families evaluating this program, the relatively controlled debt matters more than the moderate earnings estimate. Many political science graduates pursue graduate school or build careers where advancement takes time, making a lower starting debt burden strategically valuable. If your child is committed to this field and plans to work in Pennsylvania, Moravian's combination of reasonable cost and solid liberal arts foundation makes sense—just understand you're financing a credential that opens doors rather than one that guarantees immediate financial returns.