Best Political Science and Government Degrees in New York by ROI
Colleges in New York ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Programs in New York
46
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$125,739
Across New York programs
Average Annual Cost
$48,414
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Stony Brook University
Grad rate: 77.8% |
+$282,425 | $63,266 | $29,174 | $19,406 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
University of Rochester
Grad rate: 87.0% |
+$240,390 | $71,957 | $82,600 | $21,000 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
College of Staten Island CUNY
Grad rate: 33.7% |
+$191,889 | $55,262 | $14,084 | $12,603 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
SUNY Oneonta
Grad rate: 72.3% |
+$184,161 | $58,170 | $27,258 | $22,375 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
Barnard College
Grad rate: 92.2% |
+$147,938 | $67,484 | $84,023 | $19,000 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
State University of New York at Cortland
Grad rate: 68.5% |
+$90,781 | $53,451 | $26,413 | $24,138 | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
St. John Fisher University
Grad rate: 73.3% |
+$43,484 | $54,677 | $52,514 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Colgate University
Grad rate: 90.9% |
+$11,442 | $60,399 | $83,650 | $16,250 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Columbia University in the City of New York
Grad rate: 95.1% |
+$9,918 | $61,253 | $86,042 | $22,943 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
CUNY Queens College
Grad rate: 58.4% |
-$4,262 | $45,258 | $13,643 | $11,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Binghamton University
Grad rate: 83.2% |
-$17,988 | $48,382 | $29,657 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
New York University
Grad rate: 87.8% |
-$33,079 | $57,554 | $79,121 | $20,500 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Le Moyne College
Grad rate: 71.8% |
-$34,852 | $52,246 | $51,033 | $26,400 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
Hamilton College
Grad rate: 91.8% |
-$39,195 | $56,960 | $80,380 | $12,500 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Grad rate: 54.6% |
-$39,295 | $43,778 | $13,712 | $14,820 | Full ROI → |
How ROI is calculated
20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)
A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.
Find Best Political Science and Government Degrees by State
Browse Political Science and Government programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.