Compare 603 Political Economy. programs ranked by graduate earnings. Average earnings: $59,241. Top programs: $121,729+.
With top Political Economy graduates earning $121,729, this is a field where program choice matters more than school name. The gap between the best and median programs exceeds $62K—proof that evaluating programs individually beats relying on institutional prestige. Across 603 ranked programs, outcomes track program quality, not school reputation. Learn how to evaluate programs beyond school prestige →
Johns Hopkins University leads the rankings, with Political Economy graduates earning $121,729—double the field average of $59,241. That gap isn't explained by Hopkins' selectivity alone: Dartmouth (#2) delivers $106,153 and Vanderbilt (#3) produces $102,789, while Harvard places sixth at $95,838. The takeaway is consistent—program-level performance, not brand, drives graduate earnings.
High earnings rarely come with crippling debt here. Johns Hopkins graduates carry just $10,250 in student loans and face a 1.4% payment burden—landing firmly in the 'Excellent' tier, where loan payments are essentially trivial relative to income. Even when parent loans are included, the combined family burden at Johns Hopkins is just 6.0%, still rated 'Excellent.' Strong earnings and manageable debt rarely align this cleanly.
| 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 May 2026 refresh for 2026 rankings, based on Department of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
