Political Science and Government at University of Maryland-Baltimore County

UMBC's political science graduates start well behind their Maryland peers, earning $33,549 in year one—about $6,000 less than the state median and landing in just the 25th percentile among Maryland programs. The $22,000 debt load is reasonable, but when you're earning less than $34,000, even moderate debt takes time to chip away at.

Here's the complicating factor: earnings jump dramatically by year four to $57,577, a 72% increase that suggests graduates find their footing after some initial career exploration. This trajectory moves them ahead of most Maryland programs (University of Maryland-College Park graduates, for comparison, earn about $43,000 at the four-year mark). However, this delayed payoff means the first few years after graduation will be tight financially—something to plan for if your student will be living independently or has other loans to manage.

The real question is whether your child has a clear path to the kinds of roles that drive this later earnings growth. Political science graduates who move into government affairs, policy analysis, or corporate compliance can see substantial salary gains, but those who remain in entry-level nonprofit or campaign work may not follow this trajectory. If your student is using this degree as a launching pad for law school or an MPA, the initial earnings matter less. If they're planning to enter the workforce directly, understand that years one through three will require financial patience.