Political Science and Government at University of Houston-Downtown

UH-Downtown's political science program punches above its weight for an open-access urban university. Graduates earn $38,095 after one year—above both the state median ($34,415) and national median ($35,627) for political science degrees. Within Texas, this program ranks in the 60th percentile, placing it ahead of most comparable institutions while serving a primarily working-class student body (52% receive Pell grants). The $21,600 debt load matches the state median and runs lower than the national average, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57.

The trajectory looks stable rather than spectacular: earnings grow 7% to about $41,000 by year four. You won't see the $50,000+ starting salaries that private universities like Rice or SMU command, but you're also not paying private school tuition or taking on significantly more debt. For students planning to stay in Houston's public sector or nonprofit world, these earnings make sense—they reflect real career paths rather than outlier outcomes.

The main asterisk: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances could skew results. But for a family seeking affordable access to a four-year degree at a commuter campus, this program delivers reasonable outcomes. The combination of below-average debt and above-average earnings suggests UH-Downtown is doing its job—providing genuine economic mobility without crushing financial burden.