Political Science at Eastern Kentucky University
Richmond, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
46
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,899/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
12.4x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $503K | $502K | $470K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.4x | 12.4x | 11.6x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.0x | 6.0x | 5.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 46 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$40,520
Out-of-state: $83,280 (6.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,324
35% growth from Year 1
About Eastern Kentucky University
Eastern Kentucky University accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 11,674 in Richmond, KY.
See all programs and financial aid at Eastern Kentucky University →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at Eastern Kentucky University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Eastern Kentucky University?
A score of 46/100 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 $469,508 in decade earnings vs $502,911 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →