Political Science and Government at University of New Hampshire at Manchester

The standout story here is trajectory: UNH Manchester political science graduates start at $38,435 but reach $54,391 by year four—a 42% jump that transforms an average start into solid mid-career earnings. That kind of growth is unusual for political science programs and suggests graduates are successfully pivoting into careers (likely private sector or specialized government roles) that reward their combination of liberal arts skills and work experience.

The debt picture is remarkably clean. At $27,000, borrowers owe just 70% of their first-year salary, and with the strong earnings growth, that debt becomes more manageable each year. This program ranks in the 5th percentile nationally for debt—meaning 95% of comparable programs saddle students with more. The tradeoff is that early earnings lag behind New Hampshire's median for political science ($39,878), placing this program at the 40th percentile statewide. However, the state comparison is somewhat misleading given Dartmouth's $72,618 figure skews the average; UNH Manchester actually matches its flagship Durham campus exactly at launch.

For parents comfortable with a modest start in exchange for rapid earnings growth and minimal debt, this represents a practical path. The program won't match elite northeastern liberal arts colleges out of the gate, but the combination of affordable debt and strong upward mobility suggests graduates are developing marketable skills that pay off within a few years of entering the workforce.