Compare 11 Political Economy. programs in Connecticut. Average earnings: $53,050.
With top graduates earning $98,467, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $30K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Yale University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $98,467, nearly double the $53,050 average across Connecticut's 11 programs. Connecticut College follows at $67,040, while Fairfield University rounds out the top three at $65,857—demonstrating that program-specific factors drive outcomes beyond institutional reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Yale graduates borrow $12,975 and face just a 2.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. But when parent loans are included, Connecticut College creates a 23% family burden versus Yale's 8.5%—proof that the best choice depends on who's paying.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $98,467 | 159 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Good |
| #2 | Connecticut CollegePrivate | $67,040 | 54 | $23,500 | Excellent | $44,488 | Challenging |
| #3 | Fairfield UniversityPrivate | $65,857 | 33 | $26,000 | Good | $50,500 | High |
| #4 | Quinnipiac UniversityPrivate | $60,974 | 26 | $26,000 | Good | $64,334 | High |
| #5 | $58,466 | 199 | $21,500 | Good | $35,324 | Challenging | |
| #6 | $48,958 | 32 | $22,300 | Good | $19,642 | Challenging | |
| #7 | University Of HartfordPrivate | $46,226 | 11 | $27,000 | Manageable | $44,000 | High |
| #8 | $42,647 | 16 | $24,250 | Manageable | $21,628 | High | |
| #9 | Trinity CollegePrivate | $42,235 | 88 | $23,000 | Manageable | $60,796 | High |
| #10 | $35,420 | 20 | $22,250 | Challenging | $23,770 | High | |
| #11 | Sacred Heart UniversityPrivate | $17,262 | 19 | $25,000 | High | $45,486 | High |
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 →