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

The small sample size here demands caution, but the pattern is troubling: SUNY Plattsburgh political science graduates earn $29,164 in their first year—well below both the New York state median ($35,158) and national median ($35,627) for this major. That first-year figure ranks in just the 16th percentile nationally and 25th percentile among New York programs, meaning roughly three-quarters of comparable programs launch graduates into better-paying positions. The debt load of $24,106 isn't extreme, but it represents nearly 10 months of that first year's salary.

The dramatic earnings jump to $52,670 by year four suggests graduates eventually find their footing, but with fewer than 30 students in this dataset, it's unclear whether that trajectory is reliable or represents a few outliers landing public sector positions with step increases. For a program at a school serving significant numbers of first-generation college students (39% receive Pell grants), that uncertain first year poses real financial risk.

If your child is set on political science and considering SUNY schools, they should understand they're likely starting behind peers from other New York programs. The low admission selectivity and modest SAT scores suggest this isn't about student quality—it's about institutional resources and alumni networks. Unless there's a compelling reason to attend Plattsburgh specifically, other SUNY campuses or CUNY schools with stronger political science placement records warrant serious investigation.