Political Science and Government at North Carolina A & T State University

North Carolina A&T's political science program punches well above its weight, delivering first-year earnings of $42,310—outpacing 80% of North Carolina programs and 82% of programs nationwide. That's particularly impressive given the university serves a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (51%) with a mid-tier selectivity profile. Graduates are earning nearly $10,000 more than the typical NC political science graduate and about $7,000 above the national median.

The debt picture strengthens the value case. At $29,264, graduates carry slightly more debt than peers, but the 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, especially when earnings start this strong. Students are borrowing in the 5th percentile nationally (meaning 95% of programs have lower debt), but the earnings more than justify it. While you won't match Duke's outcomes, you're paying dramatically less to attend and still reaching the same tier as several selective private schools in the state.

The catch: this analysis reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes vary more than at larger programs. But if these numbers hold, this represents a genuine opportunity for students seeking a practical liberal arts degree at a public HBCU price point. The combination of strong state placement and reasonable debt makes this worth serious consideration.