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Political Science and Government at Gettysburg College

Gettysburg, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,322/yr (18% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #235 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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 $717K $691K $612K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$256,920
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$120,344
53% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,749
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$79,444
83% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $43,322 at Gettysburg College come in 18% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,749 debt-to-$43,322 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #235 out of 521 programs, Gettysburg College's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $43,322 to $79,444 over five years (83% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Gettysburg College

A 48% admission rate makes Gettysburg College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 2,209 in Gettysburg, PA. The average net cost of $120,344 over four years represents a 53% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Gettysburg 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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at Gettysburg College

Computer Science ($74,642) Economics ($62,925) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,673) Psychology, General ($50,040) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($44,068) Research and Experimental Psychology ($41,599) English Language and Literature, General ($40,601) Philosophy ($38,544)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Gettysburg College's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 48/100 — 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.
How affordable is Political Science and Government at Gettysburg College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $256,920, but the average net cost is $120,344 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →