Est. Earnings (1yr)
$37,009
Est. from CT median (14 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from CT median (7 programs)

Analysis

Borrowing $25,000 for a degree that yields roughly $37,000 in first-year earnings—numbers drawn from comparable Connecticut political science programs—suggests a manageable but unremarkable financial proposition. Similar programs across the state produce starting salaries in this range, which sits just above the national median but falls well short of what graduates from Yale, Connecticut College, or even nearby Southern Connecticut State report earning. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68 means a year's salary would nearly cover student loans twice over, but this assumes steady employment in roles that actually use the degree.

The practical challenge is that political science graduates often need additional credentials or geographic flexibility to access better-paying opportunities. Entry-level jobs in nonprofit work, government agencies, or campaign staff frequently hover in this salary range, and many graduates ultimately pivot to law school, graduate programs, or unrelated fields. With an 81% admission rate and a quarter of students receiving Pell grants, University of New Haven serves a broad population, but these estimated outcomes suggest the program functions more as a general liberal arts pathway than a direct route to financially robust careers.

Before committing, compare what specific roles recent graduates have landed and whether those align with your child's goals. The estimated figures here reflect typical outcomes across Connecticut programs—actual results from this particular school could vary considerably, and without reported data, you're operating with meaningful uncertainty about return on investment.

Where University of New Haven Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all political science and government bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Connecticut

Political Science and Government bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Connecticut (22 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
University of New HavenWest Haven$45,730$37,009*$25,000*
Yale UniversityNew Haven$64,700$57,466*$98,467$15,000*0.26
Connecticut CollegeNew London$64,812$46,588*$67,040$24,800*0.53
Trinity CollegeHartford$67,420$42,979*$25,000*0.58
Southern Connecticut State UniversityNew Haven$12,828$41,383*$26,499*0.64
Fairfield UniversityFairfield$56,360$38,426*$65,857$27,000*0.70
National Median$35,627*$23,500*0.66
* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with political science and government graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economists

Conduct research, prepare reports, or formulate plans to address economic problems related to the production and distribution of goods and services or monetary and fiscal policy. May collect and process economic and statistical data using sampling techniques and econometric methods.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Environmental Economists

Conduct economic analysis related to environmental protection and use of the natural environment, such as water, air, land, and renewable energy resources. Evaluate and quantify benefits, costs, incentives, and impacts of alternative options using economic principles and statistical techniques.

$115,440/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Economics Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in economics. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education

Teach one or more subjects to students at the secondary school level.

$64,580/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Wind Energy Development Managers

Lead or manage the development and evaluation of potential wind energy business opportunities, including environmental studies, permitting, and proposals. May also manage construction of projects.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At University of New Haven, approximately 27% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 14 similar programs in CT. Actual outcomes may vary.