Political Science and Government at University of Northwestern-St Paul

What happens when a political science degree leaves you with $23,750 in debt and first-year earnings around $35,100? Based on comparable programs in Minnesota, you're looking at a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68—meaning your entire first-year salary would need to stretch to cover almost seven months of debt. That's workable, but tighter than ideal for a field that doesn't typically command premium starting salaries.

Minnesota's political science programs produce remarkably consistent outcomes, with most hovering near that $35,000 mark. The top programs—Minnesota-Twin Cities at $40,200, Macalester at $39,400—earn roughly 12-15% more, which translates to about $5,000 annually. That gap compounds over time, and these figures suggest Northwestern-St Paul's graduates may land closer to the state median than the upper tier. The debt estimate aligns closely with the national median of $23,500, so you're not looking at unusual borrowing, just standard-issue student loans paired with below-average earnings potential for a bachelor's degree.

Political science can open doors to government work, nonprofits, or graduate school, but it rarely delivers strong immediate returns. If your child plans to pursue law school or public policy graduate programs, this degree serves as a stepping stone. If they're heading straight to work, understand that $35,000 in the Twin Cities requires careful budgeting, and career advancement will be essential to make the investment worthwhile.