Political Scienceat Dartmouth College
Graduates earn $72,618/yr in their first year — about 98.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $755K; scenarios range from $660K to $789K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Dartmouth College
Your Dartmouth Political Science degree signifies more than just a major; it's a testament to rigorous analytical training and access to an elite network. The exceptional early career earnings reflect how graduates leverage their critical thinking and communication skills in competitive fields like management consulting, finance, and law, often facilitated by the powerful alumni connections that bridge the gap from Hanover to major metropolitan hubs. Many don't pursue traditional political scientist roles, instead applying their policy understanding and analytical rigor to corporate strategy or advanced legal studies. While the "Very High" AI risk for political science is a broad industry trend, it highlights how much of the field's data analysis and document drafting tasks are becoming automatable. To thrive, focus on developing uniquely human competencies: ethical reasoning, complex negotiation, empathetic leadership, and interdisciplinary problem-solving that AI cannot replicate.
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 Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Dartmouth College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Dartmouth 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 Dartmouth College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Dartmouth College?
A score of 62/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science field.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $659,785 in decade earnings vs $788,984 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Dartmouth College's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #15 of 521 programs nationally, Dartmouth College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Is Dartmouth College a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $114,476 over four years — 56% below the $262,956 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.