Political Science and Government at University of Utah

The University of Utah's Political Science program punches well above its weight nationally, landing in the 91st percentile for earnings among similar programs. First-year graduates earn $45,112—nearly $10,000 more than the national median and solidly above Utah's state median of $41,714. While it trails BYU by about $2,000, the difference narrows considerably by year four when earnings reach $52,856, representing healthy 17% growth. At $18,370 in typical debt, graduates face less than half their starting salary in loans, making this one of the more manageable debt loads in the field.

Within Utah, this program sits comfortably in the middle of the pack at the 60th percentile, which makes sense given the state's relatively strong performance in this major overall. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 is quite favorable for political science, where many programs saddle graduates with debt exceeding their first-year income. The moderate sample size suggests steady enrollment without the volatility you might see at smaller programs.

For an accessible state flagship (87% admission rate), this program delivers unexpectedly strong outcomes in a notoriously challenging major for earnings. Your child won't graduate wealthy, but they'll be better positioned than most political science graduates nationwide and won't be buried in debt while figuring out their career path.