Political Scienceat Bates College
Graduates earn $41,055/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $623K; scenarios range from $561K to $640K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Bates College
Your Bates Political Science and Government degree equips you with highly transferable skills in critical analysis, research, and persuasive communication – assets valued across a wide array of sectors. While the program’s Lewiston location isn't a major political hub, Bates' strong national reputation and dedicated alumni network frequently facilitate entry into competitive roles in major metropolitan areas, particularly in policy, law, consulting, and non-profits.
Many graduates don't become traditional "political scientists," but leverage their robust analytical foundation in roles requiring strategic thinking and complex problem-solving. This explains the diverse career paths you see. Regarding AI risk, while data-heavy research roles might evolve, many positions demanding human judgment, ethical reasoning, negotiation, and relationship-building will remain vital. Focus your studies and internships on developing these uniquely human capabilities, perhaps by exploring a dual major or minor in economics or a related analytical field, to maximize your post-graduation versatility.
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 Bates 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 Bates College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Bates College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bates 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 Bates College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Bates College?
A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $560,876 in decade earnings vs $640,277 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Bates College a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $122,812 over four years — 52% below the $253,912 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.