Compare 29 Political Economy. programs in Massachusetts. Average earnings: $53,426.
With top graduates earning $89,043, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $36K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Harvard's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $89,043, well above the $53,426 average across Massachusetts programs. Williams College follows at $79,779, while College of the Holy Cross reaches $68,772—demonstrating that specialized liberal arts programs can deliver strong outcomes regardless of broader institutional rankings.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Harvard graduates borrow $14,000 and face just a 2.9% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Even when including parent loans, Harvard maintains a 9.5% family burden, proving top programs can also be financially accessible.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $89,043 | 102 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Good |
| #2 | Williams CollegePrivate | $79,779 | 70 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Good |
| #3 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $68,772 | 111 | $27,000 | Good | $39,032 | Challenging |
| #4 | Wellesley CollegePrivate | $65,958 | 48 | $10,000 | Excellent | $38,825 | Manageable |
| #5 | Tufts UniversityPrivate | $65,957 | 82 | $16,250 | Excellent | $38,325 | Challenging |
| #6 | Northeastern UniversityPrivate | $65,006 | 130 | $24,250 | Excellent | $34,984 | Challenging |
| #7 | Boston CollegePrivate | $64,213 | 172 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,000 | Challenging |
| #8 | Brandeis UniversityPrivate | $60,589 | 67 | $25,648 | Good | $35,451 | Challenging |
| #9 | Amherst CollegePrivate | $59,433 | 40 | $13,740 | Excellent | $47,598 | High |
| #10 | Assumption UniversityPrivate | $59,247 | 17 | $27,000 | Good | $45,926 | High |
| #11 | $59,153 | 181 | $22,763 | Good | $26,243 | Challenging | |
| #12 | Stonehill CollegePrivate | $59,026 | 28 | $25,000 | Good | $58,576 | High |
| #13 | Boston UniversityPrivate | $58,315 | 120 | $23,250 | Good | $39,000 | High |
| #14 | $56,936 | 26 | $26,000 | Good | $58,410 | High | |
| #15 | Suffolk UniversityPrivate | $56,644 | 73 | $26,889 | Good | $38,234 | High |
| #16 | $52,556 | 34 | $24,286 | Good | $18,070 | Challenging | |
| #17 | Clark UniversityPrivate | $51,039 | 39 | $26,759 | Manageable | $27,407 | High |
| #18 | $50,839 | 59 | $21,974 | Good | $17,163 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Smith CollegePrivate | $49,632 | 46 | $17,550 | Good | $30,366 | High |
| #20 | Simmons UniversityPrivate | $46,815 | 13 | $24,840 | Manageable | $23,772 | High |
| #21 | Mount Holyoke CollegePrivate | $46,497 | 31 | $22,902 | Manageable | $31,129 | High |
| #22 | $46,487 | 30 | $22,457 | Manageable | $18,544 | High | |
| #23 | Emmanuel CollegePrivate | $38,004 | 19 | $27,000 | Challenging | $41,546 | High |
| #24 | Gordon CollegePrivate | $37,684 | 23 | $26,250 | Challenging | $43,838 | High |
| #25 | $37,661 | 20 | $25,000 | Challenging | $20,284 | 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 →
