Political Science at Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,220/yr (7% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
15.7x earnings multiple (5.4x 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) | 16.0x | 15.7x | 14.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.5x | 5.4x | 4.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 59 | 58 | 54 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,768
Out-of-state: $107,084 (5.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,385
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,390
57% growth from Year 1
About Central Washington University
A 90% acceptance rate means Central Washington University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.
See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington University →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 Central Washington University
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 Central Washington University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 58/100, 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.
Why does Central Washington University rank so high for Political Science?
The #60 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →