Political Scienceat Claremont McKenna College
Graduates earn $42,552/yr in their first year — about 16.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $491K; scenarios range from $461K to $490K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Claremont McKenna College
Claremont McKenna's political science program, set within an institution renowned for its focus on economics and public affairs, provides a unique springboard. Your strong analytical and critical thinking skills, honed through a rigorous curriculum often blending quantitative methods with policy, are highly sought after by employers far beyond traditional government roles. The school's robust alumni network and powerful recruiting pipelines actively funnel graduates into top-tier consulting firms, finance, law, and strategic policy roles within corporations or think tanks, explaining the strong career launch. While AI presents challenges to certain data-heavy or repetitive analytical tasks, CMC grads typically pivot to roles demanding complex judgment, strategic communication, and leadership, which are less susceptible. To maximize your competitive edge, actively pursue internships that apply your analytical skills to real-world problems and consider a complementary focus in data science or economics.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Claremont McKenna College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Claremont McKenna College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Claremont McKenna College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Claremont McKenna College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Claremont McKenna College
What does a 41/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Political Science at Claremont McKenna College?
At 41/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Political Science programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Political Science at Claremont McKenna College?
The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Political Science at Claremont McKenna College?
The 57% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $256,600. At a net cost of $109,536, the earnings multiple improves substantially.