Compare 54 Political Economy. programs in New York. Average earnings: $51,740.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $29K earnings gap across 54 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Colgate University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $85,816, while Columbia follows at $79,220 and Cornell at $72,438. The average across all programs is $51,740, yet these liberal arts-focused programs demonstrate that specialized political economy training can outperform broader social science degrees at similar institutions.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Colgate graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 3.3% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, though families borrowing $59,463 face an 18% burden.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Colgate UniversityPrivate | $85,816 | 79 | $15,000 | Excellent | $59,463 | Challenging |
| #2 | $79,220 | 255 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Manageable | |
| #3 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $72,438 | 153 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Manageable |
| #4 | University Of RochesterPrivate | $71,957 | 61 | $21,000 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #5 | Hamilton CollegePrivate | $69,934 | 38 | $17,000 | Excellent | $45,578 | Challenging |
| #6 | New York UniversityPrivate | $68,518 | 263 | $20,500 | Excellent | $64,795 | High |
| #7 | Union CollegePrivate | $65,270 | 46 | $25,337 | Good | $57,000 | High |
| #8 | Fordham UniversityPrivate | $65,198 | 136 | $24,300 | Excellent | $37,095 | Challenging |
| #9 | Pace UniversityPrivate | $63,291 | 30 | $23,250 | Excellent | $46,275 | High |
| #10 | Stony Brook UniversityPublic | $63,266 | 139 | $18,228 | Excellent | $21,400 | Manageable |
| #11 | Binghamton UniversityPublic | $62,211 | 160 | $18,500 | Excellent | $27,270 | Manageable |
| #12 | Hofstra UniversityPrivate | $62,002 | 51 | $23,621 | Good | $56,149 | High |
| #13 | Cuny Hunter CollegePublic | $59,501 | 129 | $11,000 | Excellent | $20,252 | Manageable |
| #14 | Syracuse UniversityPrivate | $59,450 | 198 | $26,000 | Good | $39,841 | High |
| #15 | Le Moyne CollegePrivate | $58,350 | 25 | $23,000 | Good | $33,751 | Challenging |
| #16 | St Lawrence UniversityPrivate | $58,220 | 43 | $27,000 | Good | $44,628 | High |
| #17 | Suny OneontaPublic | $58,170 | 20 | $19,812 | Excellent | $24,845 | Challenging |
| #18 | Marist CollegePrivate | $57,508 | 39 | $25,000 | Good | $51,958 | High |
| #19 | $57,496 | 81 | $11,512 | Excellent | $20,000 | Manageable | |
| #20 | Vassar CollegePrivate | $56,595 | 44 | $18,625 | Excellent | $44,501 | High |
| #21 | $55,262 | 37 | $14,350 | Excellent | $15,568 | Manageable | |
| #22 | Siena CollegePrivate | $54,859 | 30 | $26,561 | Good | $40,800 | High |
| #23 | St. John Fisher UniversityPrivate | $54,677 | 7 | $23,250 | Good | $37,716 | High |
| #24 | $53,451 | 34 | $21,500 | Good | $24,455 | Challenging | |
| #25 | Cuny City CollegePublic | $53,184 | 75 | $11,990 | Excellent | $17,460 | 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 →
