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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #518 of 521

Political Scienceat Bellarmine University

Graduates earn $25,424/yr in their first year — about 31.0% below the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $547K; scenarios range from $503K to $554K depending on AI disruption.

Louisville, KY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
24 AT RISK
24
Optimistic
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,424
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.7x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$547K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bellarmine University

Studying Political Science and Government at Bellarmine offers a broad, liberal arts foundation, but translating that directly into high-earning careers post-graduation can be challenging in the Louisville market. The program likely emphasizes critical thinking and theory, which are valuable, but may not provide the specific vocational skills (like advanced data analytics or policy modeling) that employers often seek in a competitive landscape, especially outside major political hubs. Many graduates find themselves in general administrative, sales, or non-profit roles, or realize an advanced degree – such as law school or a master's in public policy – is crucial to access the higher-paying positions listed. To maximize your prospects, actively pursue internships that provide tangible skills and network extensively within specific sectors you're interested in, even if it means looking beyond Kentucky.

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
$503K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score23/100
Earnings Multiple2.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$547K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score24/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$554K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score24/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Bellarmine 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 Bellarmine 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 Bellarmine University

Other top programs at Bellarmine University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bellarmine 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 Bellarmine University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Bellarmine University?

A score of 24/100 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 $503,348 in decade earnings vs $553,788 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science from Bellarmine University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is Bellarmine University a hidden gem for Political Science?

After financial aid, the average student pays $94,348 over four years — 50% below the $188,720 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.