Political Science and Government at Whitman College

The small sample size here is crucial context, but the numbers tell a troubling story: Whitman's political science graduates earn just $27,689 initially—about $12,500 less than the Washington state median and roughly $8,000 below the national average. That's 10th percentile among Washington programs, meaning 90% of political science programs in the state produce better outcomes. Every other major Washington institution listed—from state schools to fellow private colleges—delivers first-year earnings $14,000 to $16,000 higher.

The flat earnings trajectory compounds the concern. While many liberal arts graduates see substantial salary growth as they move beyond entry-level positions, Whitman's political science cohort shows no improvement from year one to year four. The relatively modest debt of $16,750 provides some cushion—it's well below state and national medians—but even that advantage can't offset earnings that place graduates in the bottom tenth of their field regionally.

For a selective school admitting students with 1365 average SATs, these outcomes are disappointing. If your child is set on political science at a private liberal arts college in Washington, the data suggests looking at Whitworth or Pacific Lutheran, where graduates earn 60% more in their first year. The small sample means individual graduates' paths vary widely, but when most comparable programs substantially outperform, that's signal worth heeding.