Political Science and Government at Tennessee State University

Tennessee State's Political Science program starts graduates at $35,206—just below the national average but notably above Tennessee's median of $34,635. More importantly, earnings climb to $42,503 by year four, a 21% increase that outpaces many peer programs. Among Tennessee's 28 political science programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, putting it ahead of programs at Austin Peay and not far behind East Tennessee State's $37,594. The real standout here is debt: at $27,000, it's actually *lower* than both the national and state medians despite serving a predominantly Pell-eligible student body (52%).

The catch is sample size—fewer than 30 graduates means these numbers could swing considerably year to year, and some students may leave this program with dramatically different outcomes. Still, the fundamentals look reasonable: graduates carry less debt than typical political science majors nationwide, start near the middle of the pack earnings-wise, and show meaningful salary growth over four years. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.77 is manageable, meaning debt roughly equals nine months of first-year salary.

For families seeking an affordable path to a political science degree in Tennessee, particularly those qualifying for need-based aid at Tennessee State's high Pell-eligible campus, this program delivers competitive outcomes without the debt burden that often accompanies similar majors. Just recognize the small cohort means individual results may vary more than at larger programs.