Political Science and Government at University of Northern Colorado

A political science degree from UNC comes with modest debt ($20,250) but places graduates in the middle tier of Colorado's political science programs. Starting earnings of $37,458 land just below the state median, and while the program outperforms the national average by about $2,000, it trails the top three Colorado schools by $2,500-3,000 annually. That gap might not sound dramatic, but over a career it compounds significantly—especially since graduates from CU Boulder, Metro State, and CU Denver all face similar debt loads.

The encouraging news is steady earnings growth: graduates see a 21% increase by year four, reaching $45,185. The debt burden stays manageable with a 0.54 ratio to first-year earnings, meaning graduates owe roughly half their starting salary. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked) means these figures could shift considerably with more data. Political science often leads to government or nonprofit work where salaries start lower but stabilize, so patience matters here.

For Colorado families, this represents a reasonable but not exceptional value. If your student is committed to political science and prefers UNC's campus culture or location, the debt level won't be crushing. But if they can gain admission to CU Boulder or Metro State—both offering better earnings potential at comparable costs—those programs deliver stronger financial returns. The deciding factor should be fit and career plans, not just the degree itself.