Political Science and Government at Smith College

Smith grads in this program earn $42,327 in their first year—strong compared to the national average but notably below other top Massachusetts colleges. While this ranks in the 82nd percentile nationally, it lands at just the 40th percentile within Massachusetts, where schools like Tufts and Harvard place political science grads at $60,000+ starting out. That's a $20,000 gap worth understanding. The good news: manageable debt at $19,000 creates a comfortable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, well below both state and national medians.

The 17% earnings growth to nearly $50,000 by year four suggests Smith's network and brand take time to generate value, though graduates are still earning less than many peers at comparable institutions. For families paying premium tuition at a highly selective college (20% admission rate, 1480 SAT average), these outcomes deserve scrutiny—particularly since Smith's 18% Pell grant rate suggests most students come from families who could access better-earning programs elsewhere in Massachusetts.

This makes sense for students committed to Smith's unique environment and mission, or those planning graduate school where the undergraduate institution matters more than immediate earnings. Families purely focused on return on investment for a political science degree should look closely at whether the premium tuition justifies mid-tier Massachusetts outcomes.