Political Scienceat Brown University
Graduates earn $54,634/yr in their first year — about 49.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $679K; scenarios range from $603K to $704K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Brown University
Your Brown Political Science degree carries significant weight, reflecting the university's esteemed reputation and the rigorous intellectual training you'll receive. The strong earnings aren't just about understanding governance; they're a testament to the highly transferable analytical, research, and communication skills honed within an Ivy League environment. You'll benefit from an exceptionally powerful alumni network and direct recruiting pipelines into competitive fields like consulting, finance, law, and international policy, often extending beyond traditional government roles.
While the "Very High" AI risk seems concerning, it primarily targets the data-intensive, research-heavy aspects of the field. Your unique advantage lies in the critical judgment, ethical reasoning, and persuasive communication that AI cannot replicate. To truly thrive, leverage Brown's open curriculum to integrate quantitative methods or interdisciplinary studies, ensuring you're prepared to lead the strategic application of these new technologies rather than be replaced by them.
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 Brown University'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 Brown University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Brown University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Brown 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 →Frequently asked about Political Science at Brown University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Brown University?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science field.
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 $602,940 in decade earnings vs $703,517 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Brown University a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $106,288 over four years — 61% below the $272,920 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.