Political Science and Government at University of Mississippi

Ole Miss's political science program sits in an interesting middle ground: it underperforms the national median by about $2,200 annually, but beats the typical Mississippi political science graduate by nearly $2,000. In a state where most poly sci grads start around $31,000, this program's $33,373 first-year earnings actually rank in the 60th percentile—meaning it outperforms three out of five comparable programs statewide. It even edges out Mississippi State's larger program by roughly $4,000.

The debt load of $25,432 translates to a 0.76 debt-to-earnings ratio, which is manageable for a liberal arts degree. Political science typically isn't a high-earning field straight out of college, but these numbers suggest graduates can handle their loans on entry-level salaries in advocacy, government, or nonprofit work. The moderate sample size gives reasonable confidence in these figures.

For Mississippi families, this represents solid value—better than most in-state alternatives for this major. Nationally, it's average, but that's the realistic landscape for political science degrees everywhere. If your child is set on this field and planning to stay in the region, Ole Miss delivers competitive preparation without excessive debt. Just understand that political science often serves as a launching pad for graduate school or careers that take time to build earning potential.