Compare 614 Political Economy. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $59,277. Top programs: $121,729+.
With top graduates earning $98,467, Political Economy stands out as a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $49K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige.
Yale's Political Economy program leads with graduates earning $98,467, followed by Harvard at $89,043 and Penn at $86,353. Against an average of $49,752 across all programs, these outcomes demonstrate how program-level factors drive success more than overall school reputation.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Yale graduates borrow $12,975 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 strong outcomes truly accessible.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityPrivate | $121,729 | 44 | $10,250 | Excellent | $29,048 | Excellent |
| #2 | Dartmouth CollegePrivate | $106,153 | 153 | $17,500 | Excellent | $44,481 | Good |
| #3 | Vanderbilt UniversityPrivate | $102,789 | 104 | $14,000 | Excellent | $30,844 | Good |
| #4 | $100,245 | 225 | $21,500 | Excellent | $35,000 | Good | |
| #5 | Colby CollegePrivate | $96,621 | 76 | $19,157 | Excellent | $59,570 | Manageable |
| #6 | Harvard UniversityPrivate | $95,838 | 121 | $14,000 | Excellent | $28,000 | Good |
| #7 | Cornell UniversityPrivate | $95,391 | 132 | $14,000 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good |
| #8 | $95,190 | 69 | $19,500 | Excellent | $38,000 | Good | |
| #9 | University Of Notre DamePrivate | $94,297 | 177 | $19,000 | Excellent | $40,731 | Manageable |
| #10 | Trinity CollegePrivate | $94,097 | 84 | $23,000 | Excellent | $60,796 | Manageable |
| #11 | Bucknell UniversityPrivate | $94,028 | 97 | $27,000 | Excellent | $62,750 | Challenging |
| #12 | Emory UniversityPrivate | $94,001 | 75 | $18,250 | Excellent | $30,480 | Good |
| #13 | Santa Clara UniversityPrivate | $93,518 | 72 | $19,162 | Excellent | $56,271 | Manageable |
| #14 | University Of PennsylvaniaPrivate | $93,033 | 120 | $15,715 | Excellent | $33,124 | Good |
| #15 | $90,778 | 82 | $17,500 | Excellent | $24,585 | Good | |
| #16 | Yale UniversityPrivate | $90,764 | 137 | $12,975 | Excellent | $29,769 | Good |
| #17 | Lehigh UniversityPrivate | $90,302 | 51 | $21,960 | Excellent | $42,245 | Manageable |
| #18 | Elon UniversityPrivate | $89,685 | 89 | $20,500 | Excellent | $46,609 | Manageable |
| #19 | Bowdoin CollegePrivate | $89,253 | 83 | $18,500 | Excellent | $52,337 | Manageable |
| #20 | Princeton UniversityPrivate | $88,576 | 48 | $10,320 | Excellent | $41,000 | Good |
| #21 | Duke UniversityPrivate | $88,459 | 91 | $13,000 | Excellent | $27,998 | Good |
| #22 | Williams CollegePrivate | $88,339 | 63 | $12,761 | Excellent | $31,178 | Good |
| #23 | College Of The Holy CrossPrivate | $88,088 | 110 | $27,000 | Excellent | $39,032 | Manageable |
| #24 | Hamilton CollegePrivate | $88,019 | 40 | $17,000 | Excellent | $45,578 | Manageable |
| #25 | Lafayette CollegePrivate | $87,904 | 84 | $16,000 | Excellent | $59,000 | 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 →
