Political Science and Government at Rollins College

Rollins College's political science program produces middle-of-the-road outcomes, with graduates earning about $1,700 more than Florida's median for this major—placing it in the 60th percentile statewide. That's respectable positioning, though it lags behind nearby University of Central Florida ($35,937) and falls well short of top performers like University of Tampa ($40,505). The $25,362 in median debt is noticeably higher than Florida's typical $20,976 for political science programs, reflecting Rollins' private school tuition, though the 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio remains manageable.

The real caveat here is sample size—with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, one or two unusual outcomes could swing these numbers significantly. That said, the pattern makes sense: a selective private college (41% admission rate, 1304 average SAT) charging premium tuition while delivering slightly above-average early career earnings. For political science specifically, where graduate school or entry-level public sector work is common, that $36,309 first-year figure is fairly typical regardless of where you study.

If your child is already admitted and the net price after aid is competitive with state schools, Rollins offers a solid small-college experience without alarming debt levels. But if you're paying substantially more than UCF or UNF would cost, you're not buying notably better employment outcomes in this field—at least not in the first year out.