Political Science and Government at University of Connecticut-Stamford

UConn-Stamford's political science program starts graduates at relatively modest earnings—$37,000 in the first year, barely above the national median—but the trajectory tells a different story. Within four years, earnings jump 58% to over $58,000, placing graduates near the top tier of Connecticut programs. That's still well below Yale's outcomes, but it surpasses every other state school and matches competitive private institutions like Fairfield. Among Connecticut's 22 political science programs, this ranks at the 60th percentile, suggesting solid middle-of-the-pack performance with strong upward mobility.

The debt picture is manageable: $22,375 puts graduates just below both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 that allows reasonable repayment even during that lean first year. This matters for a program serving a substantial Pell-eligible population (50% of students). While the initial salary may require careful budgeting or family support, the rapid earnings growth suggests graduates are either advancing quickly in their careers or pivoting into higher-paying fields.

The key question is whether your child can weather that first year or two at entry-level pay. If they're committed to public policy, government, or related fields where advancement takes time but comes steadily, this program delivers growing returns. The combination of reasonable debt and strong earnings trajectory makes this a defensible choice within Connecticut's public university system.