Political Science and Government at University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez

The $8,250 debt burden here ranks in the 95th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of political science programs saddle students with more debt. That's genuinely exceptional, especially serving a student body where 65% qualify for Pell grants. When peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $35,600, that translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.23, less than three months' salary. This makes UPR-Mayaguez's program dramatically more affordable than the typical political science bachelor's, where national median debt sits at $23,500.

The earnings trajectory tells an interesting story. While comparable programs suggest starting salaries in the mid-$30Ks, this program's graduates reach nearly $40,000 by year four—tracking close to what top-performing programs nationally produce ($40,229 at the 75th percentile). For context, other political science programs in Puerto Rico report median earnings around $19,800, suggesting either this program connects students to different opportunities or its graduates more commonly leave the island for mainland positions.

The fundamental math works strongly in students' favor: low debt against solid earning potential based on national peer programs, with clear earnings growth in the early career years. The main uncertainty is whether this specific cohort will mirror the national patterns used for these estimates, but the minimal debt load means even if outcomes fall somewhat short, graduates won't be financially underwater.