Political Science and Government at Southwestern University

Southwestern's political science program lands squarely in the middle—students earn $34,415 their first year out, exactly matching the Texas median but trailing the national benchmark by about $1,200. What's more revealing is the ceiling: even top Texas programs like Rice and SMU see political science grads earning in the low-to-mid $50,000s, while public flagships UT-Austin and Texas A&M produce outcomes in the low $40,000s. That suggests this field has inherent earning constraints that no school fully escapes, though Southwestern's more selective peers do manage a 20-40% premium.

The debt picture is reasonable at $24,625—slightly above the Texas median but comparable to the national norm. With a 0.72 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates face manageable but not trivial repayment burdens. For context, this means roughly 7-8% of gross income toward federal loan payments on a standard plan, leaving room for other financial goals but requiring budget discipline in those early years.

The major caveat here is sample size: fewer than 30 recent graduates means next year's cohort could see meaningfully different outcomes. If your child is genuinely passionate about political science, Southwestern offers a solid liberal arts experience without crushing debt. But understand they're likely looking at entry-level nonprofit, government, or corporate roles in the mid-$30,000s—adequate for Georgetown or Austin living with roommates, but requiring either graduate school or career pivoting for substantial income growth.