Political Science and Government at University of San Francisco

USF's political science program commands relatively high debt for California but delivers above-average earnings that justify the investment—graduates start at $40,056 and reach $56,528 within four years. That 41% earnings growth outpaces typical political science outcomes and puts this program in the 74th percentile nationally. Among California's 72 political science programs, it ranks solidly at the 60th percentile, trailing elite options like Stanford and Berkeley but performing comparably to similar private institutions like Saint Mary's.

The debt picture requires context: at $23,000, graduates carry about $5,500 more than the California median for this major, largely reflecting private school tuition. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.57 means graduates earn nearly twice their debt in the first year alone—a manageable burden that becomes easier as salaries climb. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests reasonably consistent outcomes, though individual results will vary based on career path.

For families weighing USF against UC options or CSU schools, understand you're paying more upfront but getting access to San Francisco's nonprofit, government, and tech policy sectors where political science graduates can command higher salaries. If your student plans to pursue law school or public service with income-driven repayment, even this modest debt matters, but for those entering the workforce directly, the earning trajectory makes this investment workable.