Political Science and Government at Valdosta State University

Valdosta State's political science graduates face a rough start, earning just $26,576 in their first year—well below Georgia's state median of $32,340 and in the bottom 5% nationally. However, the small sample size here (under 30 graduates) means a few career paths could be skewing these numbers dramatically. The $25,100 debt load is manageable, but it's still nearly equal to that first year's salary.

The 85% earnings jump to $49,202 by year four suggests some graduates eventually find their footing, possibly in state government or education roles common for political science majors in Georgia. Still, even with that growth, this program lags behind what you'd see at UGA ($39,842 first-year earnings) or even University of North Georgia ($37,227). Among Georgia's 31 political science programs, Valdosta ranks at just the 25th percentile—meaning three-quarters of in-state alternatives show stronger starting earnings.

The real concern is that initial earnings gap combined with the tiny sample size. If your child is considering Valdosta for political science, understand they'll likely need to either pursue graduate school, accept a lean first few years while building toward better opportunities, or consider whether a more robust program might open more immediate doors. The debt is reasonable enough that this isn't a disaster, but the trajectory requires patience and strategic career planning.