Political Science and Government at San Francisco State University

San Francisco State's political science program demonstrates something unusual: graduates who start modestly but gain serious earning power. First-year earnings of $36,502 place these graduates above average—60th percentile among California programs—but it's the trajectory that stands out. By year four, median earnings jump to $60,856, a 67% increase that suggests graduates are translating their degrees into substantive career advancement. That four-year number puts SFSU within striking distance of UC Berkeley's political science graduates despite the dramatic difference in admission selectivity.

The financial picture is notably clean. At $17,000 in median debt—below both state and national averages for political science programs—graduates face manageable loan burdens relative to their earnings potential. The debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio of 0.47 means typical graduates can handle their loans even in that lower-earning first year, and the situation only improves as salaries grow.

For families seeking a California political science degree, this represents solid value. You're paying significantly less than private options like Santa Clara while achieving comparable mid-career outcomes. The 96% admission rate means access isn't the barrier—the question is whether your student can leverage this degree's clear upward trajectory, which the data suggests many SFSU graduates successfully do.