Political Science and Government at Southern Nazarene University

Southern Nazarene's Political Science program faces a fundamental challenge: peer programs in Oklahoma suggest first-year earnings around $37,400—barely enough to make a $24,600 debt load manageable. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.66, graduates would need to devote roughly two-thirds of their first year's salary just to clear the principal, assuming they could somehow live cost-free. Even Oklahoma's flagship programs report similar earnings in this field, indicating this isn't just a Southern Nazarene issue but a broader reality for political science degrees in the state.

The 45% Pell grant rate here signals that many families are already stretching financially, making that estimated debt burden particularly concerning. Comparable programs nationally show similar patterns—a median of $35,600 in earnings against $23,500 in debt—but that doesn't make the math work better for families counting on this degree to pay immediate dividends. Political science often serves as a stepping stone to graduate school, law school, or government careers that take years to build, not as a direct path to financial stability.

For families financing this through loans, understand you're looking at several years of tight budgets after graduation based on what peer programs produce. If your student needs immediate earning power or has limited family support to lean on during those lean early years, this pathway requires either a clear graduate school plan or realistic expectations about entry-level government and nonprofit salaries.