Political Science and Government at Rhodes College

Rhodes' political science program shows promising trajectory despite modest starting salaries, though the small sample size here warrants careful attention. While first-year earnings of $35,537 barely crack the median nationally, graduates see an exceptional 80% income jump by year four—reaching $63,885, well above both Tennessee and national benchmarks. This suggests the program effectively prepares students for career advancement, even if initial placements aren't spectacular. Among Tennessee political science programs, it ranks in the 60th percentile, trailing only Vanderbilt significantly.

The debt picture strengthens the case considerably. At $26,500, graduates carry roughly $3,000 more than typical political science majors, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.75 remains manageable—better than 85% of similar programs nationally. Given Rhodes' selective profile (1385 average SAT), many students likely come from families who can supplement loans or secure better employment networks, which may partly explain the strong mid-career earnings growth.

The critical caveat is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates makes these numbers potentially volatile year-to-year. If your child is serious about political science and values Rhodes' small-college environment, the four-year earnings trajectory suggests solid return potential. But verify these outcomes hold across multiple graduating classes before banking on that income growth—what looks like strong career momentum could simply reflect a few students landing exceptional opportunities.