Political Science and Government at University of California-San Diego

UC San Diego's political science program starts slow but builds impressive momentum, with graduates seeing their earnings jump 68% from $33,345 in year one to nearly $56,000 by year four. This dramatic growth trajectory helps explain why the program attracts students despite below-average starting salaries that rank in just the 40th percentile among California political science programs.

The debt picture tells a compelling story. At $16,030, graduates carry significantly less debt than both the national median ($23,500) and California average ($17,500) for political science programs. This puts UCSD in the 95th percentile nationally for low debt—meaning 95% of similar programs saddle students with more borrowing. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 is quite manageable, especially considering how quickly earnings accelerate.

While UCSD's political science graduates don't immediately compete with Stanford ($59,297) or Berkeley ($45,418) starting salaries, the combination of modest debt and strong earning potential creates a solid value proposition. The 68% earnings growth suggests graduates successfully leverage their UC San Diego credentials into better positions over time, making this program a reasonable investment for families prioritizing both prestige and financial practicality.