Political Science and Government at Youngstown State University

Youngstown State's political science program sits in the bottom quarter among Ohio's 52 similar programs, with graduates earning $37,344 at the state median but only $28,148 here initially—about $9,000 less. While earnings jump 45% by year four to $40,770, that's still roughly on par with what graduates from Miami University or Xavier earn right out of the gate. The $25,000 debt burden matches Ohio's median but creates a tight first-year budget when paired with that $28K starting salary.

The bigger concern is the small sample size (under 30 graduates), which makes these numbers less reliable indicators of what your child might actually experience. Political science outcomes vary wildly based on whether graduates pursue law school, government work, or enter the private sector, and with so few data points, one or two outliers could skew the picture significantly.

If your child is set on political science and prefers staying in-state, you're paying about the same debt as other Ohio programs but getting below-average early returns. Unless Youngstown State offers specific opportunities—particular internships, faculty connections, or career pathways—that justify starting behind, stronger in-state alternatives like Miami or Ashland appear to deliver better launching points for roughly similar investment.