Political Science and Government at Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University's political science program struggles to compete even within a state that already lags behind national averages for this field. At $30,272 in first-year earnings, graduates here earn about $7,500 less than the Colorado median and rank in just the 25th percentile statewide—meaning 75% of political science programs in Colorado deliver better outcomes. The gap is even more striking when you consider that nearby University of Colorado Boulder and Metro State Denver graduates start around $40,000, a third higher than what Western Colorado achieves.

The $24,000 debt load might seem manageable at first glance, but it represents nearly 80% of that first year's income—a tight squeeze for any recent graduate trying to establish financial independence. Combined with Western Colorado's 97% admission rate and modest academic profile, this suggests the program may not be building the networks or credential strength that political science graduates typically need to access better-paying opportunities in government, nonprofits, or advocacy work.

The small sample size here is worth noting—fewer than 30 graduates means one or two outlier outcomes could shift these numbers significantly. Still, even accounting for that uncertainty, this program would need to dramatically outperform its current trajectory to justify choosing it over stronger Colorado alternatives. Unless Western Colorado offers unique opportunities like direct internships with state or federal offices that aren't reflected in the data, families should seriously consider the state's higher-performing programs instead.