Political Science and Government at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers-New Brunswick's Political Science program shows impressive earnings growth, with graduates seeing their income jump 35% from $39,723 in year one to $53,569 by year four—well above the national median of $35,627. This acceleration helps explain why the program ranks in the 72nd percentile nationally, though it falls to the 60th percentile within New Jersey's competitive landscape.

The debt picture is manageable at $24,188, creating a reasonable 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio that's actually below the national average debt of $23,500. Within New Jersey, where political science debt typically runs higher at $25,312, Rutgers students graduate with less burden than their state peers. However, the program faces stiff in-state competition—Princeton obviously leads at $63,317, but even smaller schools like The College of New Jersey match Rutgers' four-year earnings at a similar debt level.

For parents, this represents a solid middle-tier option that gets stronger over time. The robust sample size of 100+ graduates makes these numbers reliable, and the strong earnings trajectory suggests graduates successfully leverage their Rutgers network and the program's reputation. While not the cheapest political science degree in New Jersey, the combination of reasonable debt and above-average earning potential makes this a defensible choice for students serious about careers in government, law, or public policy.