Political Science at California State University-San Bernardino
San Bernardino, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,577
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,032
88% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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 program score?
This program scores 49/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Political Science 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 →