Political Science and Government at Seattle University

Seattle University's political science program carries a yellow flag that's hard to ignore: these numbers come from fewer than 30 graduates, making them statistically shaky. That said, the available data tells an encouraging story. Graduates earn $41,474 in their first year—$6,000 above the national median and ranking in the 79th percentile nationally. Within Washington, this puts them at the 60th percentile, slightly ahead of the $40,175 state median and competitive with UW's multiple campuses.

The financial equation looks manageable. At $20,449, typical debt sits just below both state and national averages, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.50—meaning graduates owe less than half their first-year salary. Four years out, earnings climb to $52,211, a solid 26% increase that suggests graduates are finding traction in their careers rather than hitting an early ceiling.

The small sample size means these numbers could shift dramatically with a different cohort—a few law school admissions or nonprofit positions could swing earnings by thousands. But if you're choosing between political science programs in Washington, Seattle University appears to deliver comparable outcomes to flagship public universities while keeping debt modest. Just recognize you're making this decision with limited data points.