Political Science and Government at Texas A & M University-Corpus Christi

The small sample size here demands caution, but what's visible isn't encouraging. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi graduates earn roughly $34,000 their first year out—landing squarely at the 40th percentile both nationally and within Texas. That's $10,000 less than graduates from the flagship Texas A&M campus and barely 60% of what Rice grads command. The debt load of $24,869 sits above the state median, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.73 that means three-quarters of a year's salary goes to paying off loans.

What makes this trickier is the institution's open-access mission—89% acceptance rate and 40% Pell recipients suggests this program serves many first-generation and lower-income students. For these families, the question isn't whether this outperforms UT Austin; it's whether this degree provides a realistic path to financial stability. At current earnings, graduates will manage their debt, but there's little cushion for setbacks or living in higher-cost areas.

If your student is genuinely passionate about political science and understands the earning limitations, this could work—especially if they're planning graduate school or leveraging family connections into government or nonprofit work. But understand you're looking at below-average outcomes in a field already known for modest starting salaries. That flagship campus in College Station produces notably better results for just $3,000 more in median debt.