Political Science at California State University-Sacramento
Sacramento, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,189/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
20.6x earnings multiple (8.0x 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 | $643K | $625K | $562K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 21.1x | 20.6x | 18.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.2x | 8.0x | 7.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 59 | 59 | 56 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,408
Out-of-state: $77,928 (8.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,850
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,718
84% growth from Year 1
About California State University-Sacramento
California State University-Sacramento accepts 94% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, one of the larger campuses at 27,867 students in Sacramento, CA. 49% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-Sacramento →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 University-Sacramento
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at California State University-Sacramento?
A score of 59/100 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 $562,415 in decade earnings vs $642,593 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →