Political Science and Government at Santa Clara University

Santa Clara's political science graduates earn $57,111 one year after graduation—81% more than the typical California political science major and 60% more than the national median. Among 72 California programs, this ranks in the 95th percentile, trailing only Stanford and matching selective peer institutions. While that $1,417 SAT average suggests a strong student body, the earnings premium persists four years out at $64,616, demonstrating genuine career momentum rather than just advantageous starting positions.

The $21,750 median debt sits above California's typical political science debt but well below the national median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.38—manageable even by humanities standards. Given that many political science majors eventually pursue graduate school or careers where networking and institutional prestige matter significantly, Santa Clara's combination of strong alumni networks, Silicon Valley location, and clear earnings advantage makes the modest debt premium defensible.

For families comparing options, this program performs exceptionally well against both state and national competition. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means results are meaningful but could shift year-to-year. Still, the gap between Santa Clara's outcomes and typical political science earnings is wide enough that this represents a legitimately stronger launching point than most alternatives, particularly for students interested in leveraging the Bay Area's professional ecosystem.