Political Science and Government at Woodbury University

Carrying $23,313 in debt for a bachelor's degree in political science sounds manageable—until you consider that similar programs in California typically produce first-year earnings of just $35,297. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates would spend roughly two-thirds of their first year's salary to clear their debt, though spreading repayment over standard 10-year terms makes this workable at around 7% of monthly income. The challenge is that this estimated debt figure sits above California's state median of $17,500 for political science programs, suggesting Woodbury's graduates may carry more financial burden than peers at comparable schools.

The earnings estimate aligns with both state and national medians, which tells us political science isn't typically a high-earning bachelor's degree—even top California programs like UC Berkeley ($45,418) and Saint Mary's ($45,296) only push earnings modestly higher. Nearly half of Woodbury's students receive Pell grants, indicating many families are already financially stretched. For these students especially, accumulating above-average debt for median earnings creates a tighter financial picture after graduation.

If your child is considering this path, understand you're looking at estimated figures based on peer programs since Woodbury's graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to report actual outcomes. The economics work if your student has clear career goals in government, nonprofits, or plans for graduate school—but this isn't a degree that quickly pays for itself.