Best Political Science and Government Degrees in Pennsylvania by ROI
Colleges in Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania
32
Colleges with salary data
Average 20-Yr Net ROI
-$143,023
Across Pennsylvania programs
Average Annual Cost
$57,102
Cost of attendance
| # | College | 20-Yr Net ROI | Median Salary | Annual Cost | Avg Debt | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Lehigh University
Grad rate: 90.2% |
+$339,747 | $75,918 | $77,515 | $21,150 | Full ROI → |
| 2 |
Muhlenberg College
Grad rate: 81.6% |
+$187,949 | $67,973 | $73,782 | $26,950 | Full ROI → |
| 3 |
University of Scranton
Grad rate: 80.3% |
+$74,940 | $61,061 | $67,795 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 4 |
Saint Joseph's University - Philadelphia
Grad rate: 81.0% |
+$12,328 | $57,069 | $65,513 | $20,000 | Full ROI → |
| 5 |
University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 96.5% |
-$3,806 | $59,951 | $85,738 | $14,722 | Full ROI → |
| 6 |
Drexel University
Grad rate: 77.6% |
-$18,388 | $56,114 | $75,167 | N/A | Full ROI → |
| 7 |
Lafayette College
Grad rate: 88.6% |
-$31,990 | $57,092 | $78,854 | $13,640 | Full ROI → |
| 8 |
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 66.2% |
-$34,964 | $46,963 | $24,781 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 9 |
Villanova University
Grad rate: 91.5% |
-$37,011 | $58,052 | $80,866 | $25,620 | Full ROI → |
| 10 |
Bucknell University
Grad rate: 86.4% |
-$47,884 | $57,352 | $79,956 | $26,000 | Full ROI → |
| 11 |
Elizabethtown College
Grad rate: 76.6% |
-$98,542 | $48,759 | $49,318 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 12 |
Duquesne University
Grad rate: 76.6% |
-$112,785 | $50,606 | $63,042 | $24,250 | Full ROI → |
| 13 |
Susquehanna University
Grad rate: 74.9% |
-$124,682 | $52,101 | $72,563 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 14 |
La Salle University
Grad rate: 59.8% |
-$142,794 | $45,692 | $45,046 | $27,000 | Full ROI → |
| 15 |
Millersville University of Pennsylvania
Grad rate: 55.7% |
-$167,874 | $40,846 | $27,086 | $27,000 | 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.