Political Science and Government at Saint Cloud State University

The first-year earnings here are worryingly low—$28,991 puts this program in the bottom quarter of Minnesota political science programs and the bottom sixth nationally. That's barely above minimum wage for full-time work, and notably behind the state's top programs like University of Minnesota-Twin Cities ($40,208) and even mid-tier options like Augsburg University ($37,807). The debt burden of $22,908 isn't extraordinarily high by today's standards, but paired with those initial earnings, it creates a challenging first few years after graduation.

The picture does improve significantly over time, with earnings jumping to $44,544 by year four—a 54% gain that outpaces typical wage growth. This suggests graduates eventually find their footing, possibly in public sector or nonprofit roles that favor experience over credentials. However, the small sample size (fewer than 30 graduates tracked) means these numbers could shift dramatically in either direction with just a few data points.

If your child is set on political science at an accessible Minnesota public university, this path will likely require financial support or additional employment during those lean early years. The eventual earnings recovery is encouraging, but only if you can weather that initial period when nearly $23,000 in debt meets a $29,000 salary. Programs at UMN-Twin Cities or even UMN-Duluth offer stronger starting positions that could make those first few years considerably more manageable.