Political Science at Hobart William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
32
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,381/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
1.8x 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 | $449K | $454K | $434K |
| Earnings Multiple | 1.8x | 1.8x | 1.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 36 | 35 | 32 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$253,072
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
About Hobart William Smith Colleges
A 57% admission rate makes Hobart William Smith Colleges accessible to a wide range of qualified students, with a smaller student body of 1,606 in Geneva, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $124,228 over four years — 51% below sticker price.
See all programs and financial aid at Hobart William Smith Colleges →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 Hobart William Smith Colleges
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
How does Hobart William Smith Colleges's Political Science program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science 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 at Hobart William Smith Colleges after financial aid?
Sticker price is $253,072, but the average net cost is $124,228 — a 51% 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 →