Political Science and Government at Saint Xavier University

Saint Xavier's Political Science program produces graduates earning just $25,828 in their first year—barely above the poverty line for a single person and roughly $10,000 below the typical Illinois poli sci grad. Even accounting for the program's modest debt load of $23,716, this represents a challenging financial start. Among Illinois schools offering this degree, Saint Xavier ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings, meaning three-quarters of comparable state programs produce better outcomes. The gap is even starker nationally, where this program sits in the bottom 5%.

The university serves a predominantly low-income population (56% receive Pell grants), which makes these outcomes particularly concerning. While political science often leads to graduate school or public service careers with initially modest pay, first-year earnings this low suggest graduates may struggle to make loan payments or save for further education. The program costs about what students typically borrow for poli sci degrees, but comparable schools like DePaul ($37,531) and UIC ($38,363) deliver 45-50% higher starting earnings with similar debt levels.

The small sample size here matters—with under 30 graduates in the data, one or two outliers could skew results significantly. If your child is deeply committed to political science and Saint Xavier for other reasons, recognize they'll likely face several years of financial constraint after graduation. For families concerned about return on investment, exploring higher-ranked Illinois options would be prudent.