Political Science and Government at Yale University

Yale's political science program outearns every other Connecticut school by a significant margin—graduates make $57,466 in their first year, compared to the state median of $37,009. That's 55% higher than typical Connecticut political science graduates and dramatically ahead of the next-closest competitor (Connecticut College at $46,588). By year four, earnings jump to $98,467, nearly triple what most political science majors earn nationally at that point. This 71% earnings growth suggests Yale's network and credential open doors that accelerate career progression in ways few other schools can match.

The debt picture strengthens the value proposition considerably. At $15,000, graduates carry about a third of what typical Connecticut political science majors owe, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26—essentially three months of salary. This reflects Yale's strong financial aid, though it's worth noting that only 19% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting the student body skews affluent.

For families who can navigate Yale's 5% admission rate, this represents an exceptional outcome for a major often criticized for weak earnings. The combination of dramatically higher starting salaries, accelerating income growth, and minimal debt makes this one of the rare political science programs that delivers clear financial returns. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) provides reasonable confidence in these outcomes.