Compare 37 Political Economy. programs in Pennsylvania. Average earnings: $53,275.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $34K earnings gap across 37 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
University of Pennsylvania's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $86,353, while the state average sits at $53,275. Following closely, Swarthmore College ($80,009) and Lehigh University ($75,918) demonstrate that smaller cohorts—39 and 36 students respectively—can deliver outsized results through focused program quality.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. University of Pennsylvania graduates borrow $15,715 and face just a 3.4% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. That means loan payments take a minimal bite out of their post-grad income, proving top programs can also be affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $86,353 | 158 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #2 | Swarthmore CollegePrivate | $80,009 | 39 | $17,500 | Excellent | $65,862 | Challenging |
| #3 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $75,918 | 36 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Challenging |
| #4 | Villanova UniversityPrivate | $72,272 | 103 | $25,874 | Excellent | $40,000 | Challenging |
| #5 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $71,924 | 85 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | Challenging |
| #6 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $69,853 | 95 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | High |
| #7 | Muhlenberg CollegePrivate | $67,973 | 28 | $25,455 | Excellent | $48,779 | Challenging |
| #8 | Gettysburg CollegePrivate | $66,454 | 74 | $26,999 | Good | $62,000 | High |
| #9 | University Of ScrantonPrivate | $61,061 | 15 | $27,000 | Good | $41,370 | High |
| #10 | $60,579 | 50 | $19,000 | Excellent | $51,114 | High | |
| #11 | Mercyhurst UniversityPrivate | $60,520 | 13 | $25,305 | Good | $25,932 | Challenging |
| #12 | Dickinson CollegePrivate | $58,207 | 55 | $19,000 | Excellent | $45,729 | High |
| #13 | Allegheny CollegePrivate | $57,481 | 15 | $27,000 | Good | $30,598 | Challenging |
| #14 | Saint Joseph's UniversityPrivate | $57,069 | 27 | $25,500 | Good | $42,436 | High |
| #15 | $56,686 | 249 | $25,000 | Good | $38,368 | High | |
| #16 | Drexel UniversityPrivate | $56,114 | 11 | $25,325 | Good | $40,932 | High |
| #17 | $55,310 | 20 | $25,000 | Good | $23,528 | Challenging | |
| #18 | $53,655 | 46 | $23,500 | Good | $25,362 | Challenging | |
| #19 | Susquehanna UniversityPrivate | $52,101 | 16 | $27,000 | Manageable | $46,359 | High |
| #20 | $51,919 | 27 | $23,507 | Good | $29,193 | High | |
| #21 | $51,632 | 186 | $24,250 | Good | $35,031 | High | |
| #22 | Duquesne UniversityPrivate | $50,606 | 48 | $26,244 | Manageable | $57,511 | High |
| #23 | Temple UniversityPublic | $49,976 | 137 | $24,395 | Manageable | $36,495 | High |
| #24 | Elizabethtown CollegePrivate | $48,759 | 15 | $27,000 | Manageable | $51,299 | High |
| #25 | $48,178 | 27 | $25,000 | Manageable | $28,373 | 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 →
