Compare 183 Political Economy. programs in the South. Average earnings: $48,496.
The highest-earning Political Economy program isn't at the most prestigious school. With a $21K earnings gap across 183 programs, the data confirms: program-level factors drive outcomes more than institutional brand.
Duke University's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $84,950, closely followed by Johns Hopkins at $84,924. The average across all programs is $48,496, yet University of Dallas ($81,858) demonstrates how smaller programs can compete with elite institutions while offering more accessible admissions at 54%.
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. Even when parent loans are included, Johns Hopkins leads with a 9.6% family burden, proving loan payments take only a small bite out of post-graduation income.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $84,950 | 131 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Good |
| #2 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $84,924 | 39 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Good |
| #3 | University Of DallasPrivate | $81,858 | 25 | $23,117 | Excellent | $24,154 | Good |
| #4 | $79,400 | 58 | $19,500 | Excellent | $40,025 | Manageable | |
| #5 | Georgetown UniversityPrivate | $74,225 | 280 | $15,500 | Excellent | $33,944 | Manageable |
| #6 | George Washington UniversityPrivate | $72,844 | 311 | $20,449 | Excellent | $30,881 | Manageable |
| #7 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $72,701 | 97 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Manageable |
| #8 | $72,132 | 52 | $20,500 | Excellent | $38,513 | Manageable | |
| #9 | Wake Forest UniversityPrivate | $70,723 | 146 | $21,500 | Excellent | $30,000 | Manageable |
| #10 | Rice UniversityPrivate | $70,513 | 37 | $11,000 | Excellent | $35,338 | Manageable |
| #11 | $67,976 | 112 | $17,500 | Excellent | $28,903 | Manageable | |
| #12 | $67,855 | 53 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Challenging | |
| #13 | $67,120 | 360 | $19,000 | Excellent | $35,200 | Challenging | |
| #14 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $67,059 | 78 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Challenging |
| #15 | Centre CollegePrivate | $65,598 | 25 | $27,000 | Good | $50,378 | High |
| #16 | The University Of The SouthPrivate | $65,002 | 37 | $22,855 | Excellent | $56,450 | High |
| #17 | $64,526 | 194 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,325 | Challenging | |
| #18 | Radford UniversityPublic | $64,410 | 27 | $24,000 | Excellent | $22,158 | Manageable |
| #19 | Rhodes CollegePrivate | $63,885 | 23 | $21,761 | Excellent | $52,509 | High |
| #20 | $63,478 | 78 | $20,654 | Excellent | $31,890 | Challenging | |
| #21 | University Of MiamiPrivate | $62,798 | 123 | $17,500 | Excellent | $37,267 | Challenging |
| #22 | Texas Christian UniversityPrivate | $62,718 | 77 | $21,500 | Excellent | $54,925 | High |
| #23 | $62,479 | 188 | $20,500 | Excellent | $33,574 | Challenging | |
| #24 | Loyola University MarylandPrivate | $62,443 | 41 | $27,000 | Good | $50,344 | High |
| #25 | American UniversityPrivate | $62,267 | 164 | $22,750 | Excellent | $39,169 | Challenging |
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 →
