Political Science at Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
38
Optimistic
37
Base Case
34
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,123/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
2.2x earnings multiple
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 | $459K | $463K | $440K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.2x | 2.2x | 2.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 38 | 37 | 34 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$209,552
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.7 months of Year 1 earnings
About Hampden-Sydney College
A 50% admission rate makes Hampden-Sydney College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 876 students in Hampden-Sydney, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $98,672 — 53% less than the list price.
See all programs and financial aid at Hampden-Sydney College →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
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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Hampden-Sydney College?
A score of 37/100 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 $440,347 in decade earnings vs $459,070 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Hampden-Sydney College a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $98,672 over four years — 53% below the $209,552 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →