Political Science at California State University-Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$29,818/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
20.8x earnings multiple (7.6x 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 | $576K | $566K | $518K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 21.1x | 20.8x | 19.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.7x | 7.6x | 6.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 49 | 49 | 48 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,252
Out-of-state: $74,792 (7.6x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$9,895
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,331
86% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Los Angeles
California State University-Los Angeles has a 92% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 21,478 students in Los Angeles, CA. With 66% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $16,452 over four years — 40% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Los Angeles →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
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Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at California State University-Los Angeles?
A score of 49/100 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 $517,978 in decade earnings vs $575,782 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from California State University-Los Angeles?
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →