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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #52 of 521

Political Scienceat Ashford University

Graduates earn $55,196/yr in their first year — about 50.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $555K; scenarios range from $509K to $563K depending on AI disruption.

San Diego, CA Private for-profit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
58 SOLID
59
Optimistic
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$55,196
1-year post-graduation
ROI
9.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$555K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ashford University

The strong career outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates here often reflect a specific student profile. Programs like this frequently attract working professionals seeking a credential to advance in their current roles, rather than students starting fresh. You'll find many graduates leveraging this degree for promotions within government agencies, defense contractors, or corporate management, particularly in regions with significant public sector employment or military presence. The value often comes from combining your existing experience with a formal qualification. Before enrolling, critically assess how this specific degree fits into your unique career trajectory and research how your target employers view credentials from this type of institution for your desired advancement.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$509K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple9.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$555K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple10.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$563K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ashford University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Political Science graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Political Science

How Ashford University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
72
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
21.0x
ROI
Also at Ashford University

Other top programs at Ashford University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ashford University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Political Science at Ashford University

How does Ashford University's Political Science program score?

This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science graduates.

How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Political Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.