Political Science and Government at Ursuline College

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.70 suggests manageable borrowing, but the bigger question is whether the estimated $37,345 first-year salary justifies a bachelor's degree investment. Comparable political science programs in Ohio cluster right around this figure—it's the state median—yet stronger programs consistently deliver $40,000 to $46,000 in early earnings. That $7,000 to $9,000 gap compounds over time, and since we're working with statewide estimates rather than Ursuline's actual graduate outcomes, you're essentially betting on an average result from a small program.

The $26,000 estimated debt sits slightly above both state and national medians for this major, though it's not alarming territory. Combined with middle-tier earnings, this creates a workable but unexceptional financial picture. Political science graduates often pursue additional credentials or enter fields where early salaries don't reflect long-term trajectory, but that makes the initial investment even more important to scrutinize. You need a clear plan beyond the degree itself.

Given the data limitations here, compare Ursuline's career services, internship networks, and alumni outcomes in law, policy, or nonprofit sectors against programs with documented stronger earnings. If those softer factors don't stand out, you're paying similar costs to peer schools that demonstrably launch graduates into better-paying first positions.