Political Scienceat Columbia University in the City of New York
Graduates earn $61,077/yr in their first year — about 66.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $767K; scenarios range from $669K to $803K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Columbia University in the City of New York
Graduating from Columbia with a Political Science degree places you in a unique position, not just due to the university's global reputation but also its prime New York City location. Your peers often leverage the rigorous analytical and research skills developed in the program to enter competitive fields like finance, consulting, international relations, journalism, and public policy, rather than traditional "political science" roles. The extensive Columbia alumni network across these sectors in NYC and beyond provides unparalleled access to internships and career opportunities, contributing significantly to your strong early career trajectory. While many analytical and research tasks within these fields face increasing AI automation, your ability to apply critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and nuanced communication in complex, human-centric scenarios will remain invaluable. Focus on developing strong strategic judgment and interpersonal leadership skills, as these are the competencies that truly differentiate top performers in policy, management, and economic analysis roles.
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 Columbia University in the City of New York'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 Columbia University in the City of New York stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Columbia University in the City of New York
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Columbia University in the City of New York, 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 Columbia University in the City of New York
How does Columbia University in the City of New York's Political Science program score?
This program scores 59/100, 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.
How affordable is Political Science 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.