Political Scienceat Colby College
Graduates earn $54,353/yr in their first year — about 48.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $742K; scenarios range from $651K to $775K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Colby College
Your Colby Political Science and Government degree offers a powerful foundation, not just for traditional government roles but for diverse professional paths. The program's rigorous liberal arts approach cultivates exceptional critical thinking, research, and communication skills, highly valued in fields like consulting, finance, and law. This broad applicability, coupled with Colby's national reputation and extensive alumni network, helps graduates secure strong initial placements and accelerate their career growth beyond Maine. Many leverage these skills for advanced degrees in law or public policy, further boosting earning potential.
However, the field's increasing reliance on data analysis and policy research means many entry-level tasks are susceptible to AI. To thrive, you'll need to proactively integrate quantitative skills or tech literacy into your studies, focusing on higher-order strategic thinking and interpersonal leadership that AI cannot replicate. Seek out internships that build these complementary competencies.
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 Colby 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 Colby College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Colby College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Colby 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 Colby College
How does Colby College's Political Science program score?
This program scores 56/100, 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 Colby College rank so high for Political Science?
The #77 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.
How affordable is Political Science at Colby College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $266,400, but the average net cost is $95,756 — a 64% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.