Political Science and Government at Skidmore College

Skidmore's Political Science program produces graduates earning $42,756 in their first year—significantly above the national median of $35,627 and ranking in the 83rd percentile nationally. That's impressive on paper, but context matters: within New York, where this program sits at the 60th percentile, there's a notable gap between Skidmore and the state's elite liberal arts colleges. Hamilton, Colgate, and Barnard graduates all earn $15,000+ more in their first year out, suggesting Skidmore may not fully leverage the same alumni networks or career placement pipelines despite its 23% admission rate.

The debt picture is reasonable—$23,025 is close to both state and national medians—and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 means graduates can manage their loans without financial strain. However, earnings growth is essentially flat at just 4% over four years, which raises questions about career trajectory for these graduates. For a selective liberal arts college charging premium tuition, that stagnation is worth noting.

The small sample size here is a real limitation, so these numbers could shift considerably year to year. For families considering Skidmore, the program offers solid outcomes compared to most schools nationally, but if your child is admitted to one of New York's top-tier liberal arts colleges, those schools deliver materially better earnings. Skidmore works as a good option, not necessarily the best value in its competitive set.