Political Science and Government at New York Institute of Technology

A $35,000 starting salary against $23,500 in debt sounds manageable on paper—a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within workable territory. But peer programs in New York show this field's wide earning spread, from around $35,000 at most schools to over $60,000 at elite institutions like Columbia and Cornell. Political science graduates typically need graduate degrees or strategic internships to access higher-paying roles, making that first-year salary especially important for determining whether students can afford further education or must immediately service debt.

New York Institute of Technology's 78% admission rate and solid SAT average of 1290 place it in the accessible-but-respectable range, though the estimated outcomes here mirror the state median rather than exceed it. With 44% of students receiving Pell grants, debt burdens matter significantly. The estimated $23,500 debt is typical for this major, but similar programs across New York suggest earnings could remain modest unless graduates pursue law school, public policy programs, or land competitive positions in government or advocacy work.

The practical question is whether your child has a clear post-graduation plan. Political science bachelor's degrees often serve as stepping stones rather than endpoints, and borrowing nearly $24,000 makes sense primarily if there's a concrete next step—whether grad school, a government pathway, or established connections in policy work. Without that clarity, comparable programs at CUNY schools might offer similar outcomes with less financial pressure.