Political Science and Government at Pepperdine University

Pepperdine's political science graduates start modestly at $42,306 but see impressive income growth, reaching $68,168 by year four—a 61% jump that suggests strong career trajectory development. While this beats 82% of similar programs nationwide, it ranks in the middle of California's pack (60th percentile), trailing Stanford and Berkeley by notable margins. The starting salary is 20% above the national median but only slightly ahead of California's typical poly sci graduate, who also carries less debt ($17,500 vs. $23,625).

The debt burden here is manageable—about half of first-year earnings—and graduates quickly outpace their starting position. By year four, these alumni are earning significantly more than both national and state medians for their major. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these outcomes might not be representative of every student's experience, and at a school with only 20% Pell grant recipients, the graduate profile may skew toward students with additional family resources.

For a parent, this comes down to cost: at California resident tuition levels, this trajectory makes sense. But if you're paying full private tuition while other options like UC Berkeley deliver comparable outcomes at lower cost, the premium becomes harder to justify based purely on earnings potential. The strong four-year number is encouraging, but verify what that Pepperdine education actually costs your family after aid.