Political Science and Government at Valparaiso University

Valparaiso's political science program shows something intriguing: while first-year earnings of $32,893 lag behind the Indiana median by about $2,000, four-year earnings jump to $58,168—surpassing even prestigious programs like DePauw and coming within $3,000 of Notre Dame's outcomes. That 77% earnings growth is exceptional and suggests graduates are successfully navigating into more lucrative career paths, whether in public policy, law-adjacent roles, or the private sector.

The $27,000 debt load sits right in line with state norms and is actually lower than the national median, making this one of the more affordable political science degrees you'll find. That translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.82—manageable even in the slower first year, and quite comfortable once those mid-career earnings kick in. Among Indiana's 33 programs, this ranks around the 40th percentile initially but likely climbs significantly higher once you factor in year-four outcomes.

The major caveat here is the small sample size—fewer than 30 graduates in the dataset means a few high earners could be skewing results. But if your child is serious about political science and willing to hustle through that first year at a lower salary, this program appears to deliver strong mid-term returns without burying graduates in debt. The trajectory matters more than the starting point.