Home Schools Bryant University Political Science
Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #164 of 521

Political Scienceat Bryant University

Graduates earn $41,112/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $763K; scenarios range from $666K to $799K depending on AI disruption.

Smithfield, RI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
52 AVERAGE
53
Optimistic
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,112
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$763K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Bryant University

First-year earnings of $41,112 at Bryant University come in 12% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 7 months of the $41,112 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #164 of 521 Political Science programs, Bryant University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $87,176 show a 112% jump from the $41,112 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

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
$666K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score48/100
Earnings Multiple3.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$763K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score52/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$799K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score53/100
Earnings Multiple3.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Other top programs at Bryant University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Bryant 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 Bryant University

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

A score of 52/100 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 $666,291 in decade earnings vs $798,769 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.