Compare 13 Political Economy. programs in Maryland. Average earnings: $51,927.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $63K earnings gap across 13 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Johns Hopkins University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $84,924, well above the $51,927 state average. University of Maryland-College Park follows at $67,120, demonstrating that public programs compete effectively with private institutions in this field.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Johns Hopkins graduates borrow $10,250 and face just a 2.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, making the program both high-earning and affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $84,924 | 39 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Good |
| #2 | $67,120 | 360 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #3 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $62,443 | 41 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High |
| #4 | $60,798 | 18 | $21,105 | Excellent | $21,004 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Washington CollegePrivate | $59,500 | 21 | $26,956 | Good | $54,726 | High |
| #6 | $57,577 | 81 | $19,500 | Excellent | $26,987 | Challenging | |
| #7 | $55,486 | 29 | $21,000 | Good | $36,119 | High | |
| #8 | Towson UniversityPublic | $53,217 | 83 | $18,718 | Good | $28,489 | Challenging |
| #9 | Salisbury UniversityPublic | $48,497 | 40 | $21,000 | Good | $33,815 | High |
| #10 | Mount St. Mary's UniversityPrivate | $39,241 | 14 | $25,391 | Challenging | $42,721 | High |
| #11 | Morgan State UniversityPublic | $35,060 | 10 | $27,250 | High | $22,000 | High |
| #12 | Goucher CollegePrivate | $29,685 | 10 | $26,000 | High | $39,769 | High |
| #13 | Mcdaniel CollegePrivate | $21,508 | 34 | $25,000 | High | $31,791 | 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 →
