Political Science and Government at University of Massachusetts-Boston

UMass Boston's Political Science program starts slow but builds momentum impressively—graduates earn $34,499 their first year but see that jump to $50,839 by year four, a 47% increase that suggests the degree opens doors over time. The manageable debt load of $24,824 looks reasonable against that fourth-year earning power, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that puts this program in a better position than many political science degrees nationally.

The challenge is Boston's competitive market. Among Massachusetts political science programs, this ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings—substantially below the state median of $43,010 and nowhere near the top programs like Tufts ($67,713) or Harvard ($61,543). That gap reflects both the institution's open-access mission (43% of students receive Pell grants) and the reality that employers in Massachusetts state government and nonprofits may prioritize graduates from more selective schools for entry-level positions.

For families prioritizing affordability and steady career growth over immediate earning power, this program works—the combination of reasonable debt and strong earnings trajectory creates genuine upward mobility. But students should plan for those leaner early years and understand they'll likely need to hustle harder for Boston-area opportunities than peers from higher-ranked Massachusetts schools.