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Political Science and Government at Austin Peay State University

Clarksville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,635/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (8.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #296 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$500K	$500K	$468K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.4x	14.4x	13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.8x	8.8x	8.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	44

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,700

Out-of-state: $56,876 (8.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,384

-71% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,593

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $34,635/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $34,635 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #296 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Austin Peay State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $34,635 to $47,593 over five years — a 37% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Austin Peay State University

Austin Peay State University accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 7,365 in Clarksville, TN. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Austin Peay State University →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Austin Peay State University?

A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $467,902 in decade earnings vs $500,495 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →