Political Scienceat DePauw University
Graduates earn $44,224/yr in their first year — about 21.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $567K; scenarios range from $519K to $577K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at DePauw University
Graduates earn $44,224/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
The financial case is thin at 2.5x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.
Some AI exposure exists in Political Science's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 10% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 7 months of the $44,224 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
Ranked #368 of 521 Political Science programs, DePauw University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.
Earnings grow from $44,224 to $61,602 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
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 DePauw University'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 DePauw University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at DePauw University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at DePauw University, 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 DePauw University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at DePauw University?
A score of 41/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $518,647 in decade earnings vs $576,787 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is DePauw University a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $98,184 over four years — 57% below the $228,280 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.