Compare 51 Political Economy. programs in California. Average earnings: $53,252.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $20K earnings gap across 51 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Stanford's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $75,464, followed closely by Cal Poly San Luis Obispo at $71,231. The average across all programs is $53,252, but notice how a public polytechnic nearly matches Stanford—proof that program quality varies independently of school prestige.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Stanford graduates borrow $12,000 and face just a 3.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. But when parent loans are included, Cal State Dominguez Hills leads with a 10.8% family burden—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
Highest program earnings: $75,464
Strong outcomes with 89% acceptance
3.1% payment burden | Excellent
10.8% family burden | Good
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Stanford UniversityPrivate | $75,464 | 57 | $12,000 | Excellent | $38,333 | Manageable |
| #2 | $71,231 | 70 | $18,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #3 | $68,762 | 24 | $23,691 | Excellent | $58,000 | High | |
| #4 | Pepperdine UniversityPrivate | $68,168 | 43 | $23,510 | Excellent | $41,309 | Challenging |
| #5 | University Of San DiegoPrivate | $64,626 | 48 | $22,940 | Excellent | $56,559 | High |
| #6 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $64,616 | 80 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | High |
| #7 | Chapman UniversityPrivate | $64,529 | 73 | $20,500 | Excellent | $44,954 | Challenging |
| #8 | $62,470 | 297 | $13,993 | Excellent | $26,465 | Manageable | |
| #9 | $62,430 | 482 | $13,000 | Excellent | $28,508 | Manageable | |
| #10 | $60,856 | 129 | $15,371 | Excellent | $19,732 | Manageable | |
| #11 | $60,648 | 109 | $15,000 | Excellent | $25,565 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $59,908 | 56 | $16,544 | Excellent | $15,738 | Manageable | |
| #13 | $58,937 | 704 | $14,000 | Excellent | $26,176 | Manageable | |
| #14 | University Of La VernePrivate | $58,872 | 12 | $23,500 | Good | $27,977 | Challenging |
| #15 | $58,794 | 164 | $18,000 | Excellent | $31,803 | Challenging | |
| #16 | Loyola Marymount UniversityPrivate | $57,686 | 77 | $19,500 | Excellent | $58,361 | High |
| #17 | Occidental CollegePrivate | $56,838 | 28 | $23,000 | Good | $51,450 | High |
| #18 | University Of San FranciscoPrivate | $56,528 | 52 | $23,000 | Good | $44,413 | High |
| #19 | $56,203 | 36 | $13,807 | Excellent | $11,061 | Good | |
| #20 | $55,931 | 390 | $15,500 | Excellent | $24,257 | Manageable | |
| #21 | $55,323 | 307 | $15,000 | Excellent | $22,665 | Manageable | |
| #22 | $54,795 | 267 | $13,000 | Excellent | $25,733 | Challenging | |
| #23 | $54,541 | 68 | $17,350 | Excellent | $18,031 | Manageable | |
| #24 | Azusa Pacific UniversityPrivate | $54,456 | 12 | $23,219 | Good | $26,000 | Challenging |
| #25 | $53,959 | 174 | $15,000 | Excellent | $16,507 | Manageable |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
