Political Science and Government at State University of New York at Cortland

SUNY Cortland's political science program shows notably weak starting earnings at $29,143—about $6,000 below New York's median and landing in just the 25th percentile among state programs. That's a significant gap when you consider the state's higher cost of living. The debt load of $24,138 is roughly in line with what you'd expect, but it takes nearly a full year's salary to cover it.

The good news is substantial earnings growth: graduates see income jump 83% by year four, reaching $53,451. That four-year figure puts this program on much more solid footing and suggests the early weakness may reflect the kinds of entry-level positions (campaign work, nonprofit roles) that political science majors often take before moving into better-paying careers in government or the private sector.

The critical caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings data. With numbers this small, one or two outliers can swing the results dramatically. That said, the pattern of low initial earnings followed by strong growth aligns with what we typically see in liberal arts fields. If your child is committed to political science and comfortable with a lean first year or two out of college, SUNY Cortland offers a path forward at a reasonable price. Just know they'll likely be playing catch-up compared to peers at other New York programs initially.