Political Science and Government at Purdue University Northwest

In Indiana, political science programs produce widely different outcomes—from Notre Dame's $55,000+ to the state median of about $35,000—and Purdue Northwest's program appears to track near that middle-of-the-pack performance. Based on comparable programs in Indiana, students here can expect around $35,000 in first-year earnings, climbing to a reported $43,480 by year four. That four-year figure actually exceeds what Ball State and Purdue's main campus report initially, suggesting decent momentum after a slower start.

The estimated $20,000 in debt tells a more encouraging story than the state typical load of nearly $26,000. That lighter burden means the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 is manageable—graduates would owe about seven months of their first-year salary, well below levels that typically strain budgets. For a regional public university serving a substantial population of Pell grant recipients, keeping debt this moderate matters considerably.

The practical reality: this program won't position your child for the premium outcomes that Notre Dame or DePauw deliver, but it also won't saddle them with the heavier debt loads common elsewhere in the state. If they're committed to political science and want to stay relatively close to home while avoiding excessive borrowing, this represents a sensible middle path—just ensure they have a clear plan for turning the degree into career advancement beyond that modest starting salary.