Political Scienceat Barnard College
Graduates earn $57,298/yr in their first year — about 56.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $757K; scenarios range from $662K to $792K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Barnard College
Your Barnard Political Science and Government degree offers a distinct advantage, rooted in its rigorous liberal arts foundation and unparalleled New York City location. The strong career outcomes reflect how graduates leverage this environment, finding paths far beyond traditional government roles. You'll enter a vibrant alumni network often working in finance, law, consulting, media, and major non-profits like the UN or Human Rights Watch, leveraging analytical skills in diverse sectors.
While some roles in data interpretation and policy research face increasing AI integration, your education emphasizes critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and persuasive communication – human-centric skills that remain invaluable. To thrive, actively seek internships with NYC-based organizations during your studies. This hands-on experience, coupled with the program's intellectual rigor and the broader Columbia University resources, will be crucial for navigating evolving job markets and securing highly competitive positions upon graduation.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Barnard College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Barnard College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Barnard College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Barnard College, 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 →Frequently asked about Political Science at Barnard College
How does Barnard College'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.
Why does Barnard College rank so high for Political Science?
The #55 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.