Political Science and Government at Mount St. Mary's University

Mount St. Mary's political science graduates start well behind their Maryland peers—earning $29,800 in their first year compared to the state median of nearly $40,000. That places them in the bottom quarter of Maryland political science programs, trailing not just powerhouses like UMD-College Park but also regional state schools like Frostburg and Towson by over $10,000 annually.

The financial picture has one silver lining: relatively low debt at $27,000, which is actually below both state and national averages. This means graduates hit a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.91, despite the weak starting salaries. The 32% earnings growth to year four suggests recovery is possible, though even at $39,241, graduates remain below where their Maryland counterparts typically start.

Here's the critical caveat: these numbers come from a very small sample of recent graduates, so they may not represent the typical outcome. For a family weighing this investment, the question becomes whether Mount St. Mary's specific strengths—perhaps in political connections, internships, or graduate school preparation—justify starting so far behind the state curve. Maryland offers multiple public options where political science graduates consistently earn $42,000+ right out of the gate, making the private school premium at Mount St. Mary's hard to justify on earnings alone.