Political Science at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,079/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
17.1x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $546K | $540K | $498K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.2x | 17.1x | 15.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.9x | 6.8x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 53 | 50 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (6.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,300
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,461
51% growth from Year 1
About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,491 students in Arcata, CA. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.
See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Political Science program score?
This program scores 53/100, 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 California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt rank so high for Political Science?
The #124 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →