Political Science and Government at University of Arizona

University of Arizona's political science program demonstrates a compelling earnings trajectory that should catch parents' attention: graduates see their median earnings jump 47% within four years, climbing from $36,193 to $53,016. That's solid growth for a liberal arts degree, though it's worth noting that graduates start below the state median for this major—ranking in just the 40th percentile among Arizona's political science programs.

The debt picture offers a silver lining. At $21,630, graduates carry less debt than both the state median ($22,250) and the national median ($23,500) for political science majors. With a debt-to-first-year-earnings ratio of 0.60, new graduates face roughly seven months of income in debt—manageable by any standard. The real question is whether that first year of tighter finances is worth weathering, given that competing programs like Arizona State's offerings start graduates at $42,481 right out of the gate.

For families willing to bet on longer-term growth rather than immediate earnings, this program delivers. The robust sample size (100+ graduates) confirms these aren't flukes. But if your student needs strong starting earnings to manage expenses immediately after graduation, Arizona State's higher initial pay might justify comparison shopping, even if the long-term trajectories eventually converge.