Political Science at California State University-San Marcos
San Marcos, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,297/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
17.3x 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 | $540K | $534K | $494K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.4x | 17.3x | 16.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.9x | 6.8x | 6.3x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 53 | 52 | 49 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,956
Out-of-state: $78,476 (6.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,666
6.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,339
51% growth from Year 1
About California State University-San Marcos
A 96% acceptance rate means California State University-San Marcos is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 14,174 in San Marcos, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 44% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at California State University-San Marcos →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 Marcos
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
How does California State University-San Marcos's Political Science program score?
This program scores 52/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →