Political Science and Government at Wesleyan University

A $25,000 debt load for a bachelor's degree from one of the nation's most selective liberal arts colleges sounds reasonable on paper, but the estimated first-year earnings of $37,000 tell a more complicated story. Based on comparable Political Science programs across Connecticut, Wesleyan graduates would be earning right at the state median—about $20,000 less than Yale's reported outcomes and notably behind several peer institutions. For a school with a 17% admission rate and average SATs above 1500, this suggests either that Wesleyan's Political Science graduates pursue dramatically different paths (graduate school, public service, competitive but low-paying fellowships) or that the liberal arts premium doesn't immediately translate to salary.

The 0.68 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in acceptable territory, meaning your child could theoretically dedicate two-thirds of their first year's salary to debt and be finished. But that calculation assumes they're working full-time in a paying job rather than interning unpaid on Capitol Hill or enrolling in law school—common trajectories for political science majors at elite schools. The real question is whether Wesleyan's network, credential, and intellectual environment justify what appears to be a significant earnings gap compared to its direct competitors. If your child is planning graduate school anyway, the modest debt might matter more than the early earnings. If they need to start earning immediately after graduation, other Connecticut programs show stronger early outcomes.