Political Science and Government at Point Loma Nazarene University

A degree in political science from Point Loma Nazarene comes with estimated debt of $23,313—about $6,000 more than the California median for these programs—while first-year earnings based on comparable programs hover around $35,300. That's a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, which is manageable but leaves little margin for error. For a family considering a private Christian university in expensive San Diego, this means your student would need to land work quickly or plan for graduate school to make the numbers work comfortably.

What's challenging here is the gap between Point Loma's costs and what similar programs typically produce. While the estimated earnings align with statewide norms for political science graduates, the debt figure sits well above the state median of $17,500—a consequence of private school tuition. The earnings outlook itself isn't alarming—it matches the national benchmark almost exactly—but political science remains a field where many graduates pursue additional credentials to access higher-paying careers in law, policy, or government.

The practical concern is whether Point Loma's smaller class sizes and faith-integrated curriculum justify that extra debt load when public alternatives could deliver comparable career outcomes at significantly lower cost. If your student values the specific campus culture and has clear career plans that don't require immediate graduate school, the investment becomes more defensible. Otherwise, the debt premium deserves serious scrutiny against what peer programs typically deliver.