Political Science and Government at University of North Carolina at Pembroke

At $22,223 one year after graduation, this Political Science degree produces earnings barely above the poverty line—and significantly below what graduates from similar programs across North Carolina are seeing. While the median NC political science graduate earns $32,780, UNC Pembroke's program sits in just the 10th percentile statewide. Even compared to the national landscape of over 1,100 programs, these outcomes rank in the bottom 5%. The debt burden of $26,500 means graduates owe more than a full year's earnings, creating immediate financial pressure for young adults trying to establish themselves.

The small sample size here is critical context—we're looking at fewer than 30 graduates, so these numbers could shift dramatically year to year. That said, nearly half the student body receives Pell grants, suggesting many families are counting on this degree to deliver economic mobility. When neighboring UNC Chapel Hill's political science graduates earn $41,200—nearly double—parents should ask pointed questions about what's driving such different outcomes within the same state system.

For families considering this program, the combination of below-average earnings and above-average debt creates serious affordability challenges. Unless your child has minimal debt through scholarships or family support, this particular pathway looks financially risky compared to other options in North Carolina, where most political science programs deliver substantially stronger early-career results.