Political Science and Government at Oklahoma State University-Main Campus

Oklahoma State's Political Science program delivers below-average outcomes for the state, with graduates earning $33,484 one year out—nearly $4,000 less than Oklahoma's median for this field and about $2,000 below the national benchmark. Within Oklahoma's political science programs, this ranks in just the 40th percentile, trailing nearby University of Central Oklahoma ($38,063) and OU-Norman ($37,401). The good news is that debt loads are manageable at $21,107, coming in below both state and national medians.

The 0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio is reasonable and won't trap graduates in financial distress, but the earnings trajectory here is the real concern. Political science graduates typically need to leverage their degrees into law school, graduate programs, or competitive government positions to see strong returns. Starting $4,000 behind state peers makes that path harder, especially when those extra earnings compound over time.

For an Oklahoma family, this program represents a safe but underwhelming choice. Your child won't graduate with crushing debt, but they'll likely earn less than political science graduates from other state schools while paying similar tuition. If law school or graduate education is the plan, the lower debt could work in their favor. Otherwise, consider whether programs at OU-Norman or Central Oklahoma might offer better career positioning for a similar investment.