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Political Science and Government at Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,840/yr (-21% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 3.6x earnings multiple

Ranked #468 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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	$698K	$674K	$599K
Earnings Multiple	3.7x	3.6x	3.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	35	34	33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$188,584

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$139,912

26% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

9.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$67,704

135% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,840 place Duquesne University below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 3.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,250 represents roughly 10 months of the $28,840 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #468 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Duquesne University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $67,704 show a 135% jump from the $28,840 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Duquesne University

Duquesne University accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 5,216 students in Pittsburgh, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Duquesne University →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Duquesne University?

A score of 34/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $599,443 in decade earnings vs $698,263 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Duquesne University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →