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Political Science and Government at Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,077/yr (66% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #40 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $803K $767K $669K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$276,180
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,592
71% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,687
62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $61,077 put Columbia University in the City of New York's Political Science and Government program 66% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 17% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $61,077 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #40 ranking out of 521 Political Science and Government programs nationally puts Columbia University in the City of New York in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $61,077 to $98,687 over five years (62% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Columbia University in the City of New York

Columbia University in the City of New York's 4% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with a mid-sized student body of 8,899 in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $80,592 over four years — 71% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia University in the City of New York →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Bowdoin College ($60,626)

Other Majors at Columbia University in the City of New York

Computer Science ($118,636) Operations Research ($110,457) Computer Engineering ($102,083) Applied Mathematics ($91,559) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($84,019) Economics ($83,135) Mechanical Engineering ($72,036) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($62,895)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Columbia University in the City of New York's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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.
How affordable is Political Science and Government at Columbia University in the City of New York after financial aid?
Sticker price is $276,180, but the average net cost is $80,592 — a 71% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →