Political Science and Government at California State University-San Bernardino

San Bernardino, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,291/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 18.8x earnings multiple (7.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #200 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $588K $577K $526K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 19.2x 18.8x 17.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.5x 7.4x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 50 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)
$30,700
Out-of-state: $78,220 (7.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$23,672
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,577
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,032
88% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $30,291 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from California State University-San Bernardino earn below the $36,684 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 18.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $16,577 debt-to-$30,291 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #200 out of 521 programs, California State University-San Bernardino's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $30,291 to $57,032 over five years (88% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-San Bernardino

With 98% of applicants admitted, California State University-San Bernardino prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 15,771 in San Bernardino, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 57% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Bernardino →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at California State University-San Bernardino

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 University-San Bernardino's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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 are Political Science and Government earnings lower at California State University-San Bernardino?
Lower starting pay at California State University-San Bernardino may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →