Home › Franklin and Marshall College › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at Franklin and Marshall College

Lancaster, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,928/yr (25% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #321 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	$643K	$625K	$563K
Earnings Multiple	2.4x	2.3x	2.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$273,520

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$156,244

43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,000

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$71,360

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $45,928 put Franklin and Marshall College's Political Science and Government program 25% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.3x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $45,928 far exceeding the $19,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #321 out of 521 programs, Franklin and Marshall College's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $45,928 to $71,360 over five years (55% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Franklin and Marshall College

Franklin and Marshall College accepts 32% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, a compact campus enrolling 1,904 students in Lancaster, PA. The average net cost of $156,244 over four years represents a 43% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Franklin and Marshall College →

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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Franklin and Marshall College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Franklin and Marshall College's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 44/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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