Political Science and Government at Sacred Heart University

The $17,262 first-year earnings figure here is alarmingly low—less than half the Connecticut median for political science graduates and in the bottom 10% both statewide and nationally. Even accounting for the small sample size (under 30 graduates), this suggests graduates are struggling to find professional employment or are taking positions well below what political science majors typically secure. Compare this to nearby schools: Fairfield University's political science graduates earn $38,426, while even Southern Connecticut State clocks in at $41,383.

The debt level of $20,750 is actually slightly below state and national averages, which would normally be positive. But when paired with such low earnings, the 1.20 debt-to-earnings ratio becomes problematic—graduates are starting with debt exceeding their full first-year salary. This likely reflects underemployment rather than career-appropriate positions. Whether this represents a temporary dip or a pattern is impossible to know with such limited data, but the gap compared to other Connecticut programs is hard to ignore.

Given the small sample and the dramatic divergence from both state and national norms, I'd want to see multiple years of data before drawing firm conclusions. If your student is seriously considering Sacred Heart for political science, request career outcomes data directly from the university and ask specifically about job placement rates and types of positions graduates secure.