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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #15 of 521

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.

Hanover, NH Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
62 SOLID
63
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$72,618
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.8x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$755K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

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.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$660K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$755K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score62/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$789K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score63/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Earnings Trajectory

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.

Career Paths

Where Political Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Political Science

How Dartmouth College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
72
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
21.0x
ROI
Harvard University
MA · Private nonprofit
64
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
4.0x
ROI
Also at Dartmouth College

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 →
FAQ

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.