Political Science and Government at Rocky Mountain College

A Political Science bachelor's from Rocky Mountain College comes with an estimated $24,625 in debt—slightly above the national median for this major and notably higher than Montana's typical $20,856. With first-year earnings around $35,600 (based on national political science outcomes), you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.69, which means roughly 8 months of gross income to cover the debt.

The challenge here is that Montana's public universities appear to deliver similar or better outcomes at lower cost. The University of Montana reports $38,094 in first-year earnings for political science graduates, while Montana State reports $35,476—both figures suggest Rocky Mountain's estimated earnings are in the right ballpark, but the debt load matters. With Montana's state median debt for this major sitting at $20,856, private school financing adds about $4,000 extra burden without clear earnings premium.

For parents, the question becomes whether Rocky Mountain's smaller environment (32% Pell-eligible students, 73% admission rate) justifies that additional borrowing. Political science degrees typically serve as stepping stones to law school, public service, or graduate programs rather than immediate high-earning careers. If your child is headed straight to grad school or needs loans forgiven through public service, that sub-$25,000 debt load remains manageable. But if they're uncertain about next steps, Montana's public options offer similar career preparation with less financial risk.