Political Science and Government at Otterbein University

In Ohio, political science bachelor's programs show a wide earnings spread—from less than $30,000 to over $46,000 in the first year. Based on 26 comparable programs statewide, Otterbein graduates would likely earn around $37,345, which sits right at the state median but trails stronger performers like Miami University by nearly $10,000. That gap matters when you're servicing debt.

The estimated $26,000 debt load is typical for Ohio private colleges in this field, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70—manageable by conventional standards, but not generous given political science's career realities. Many graduates enter fields like nonprofit work, advocacy, or government positions where salaries start modest and grow slowly. The pathway to higher earnings often requires graduate school, which means additional debt before career acceleration kicks in.

For families considering Otterbein specifically, the unknowns cut both ways. The school could be producing outcomes better than the state median—its 1220 average SAT suggests a reasonably selective student body—or it could be trailing peers like Capital University ($39,807) and Xavier ($41,710). Without program-specific data, you're essentially betting that Otterbein's approach to political science delivers value consistent with similar Ohio schools. If your child has strong graduate school ambitions or specific career connections, that bet may be reasonable. If they're counting on the bachelor's alone to launch a financially stable career, programs with documented earnings above $40,000 deserve serious consideration.