Political Science at Illinois State University
Normal, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,519/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
9.3x earnings multiple (5.3x 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 | $613K | $599K | $543K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.6x | 9.3x | 8.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.5x | 5.3x | 4.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 48 | 47 | 45 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$64,084
Out-of-state: $112,344 (5.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,313
81% growth from Year 1
About Illinois State University
A 89% acceptance rate means Illinois State University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 18,414 in Normal, IL.
See all programs and financial aid at Illinois State 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 Illinois State University
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 Illinois State University?
A score of 47/100 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 $542,797 in decade earnings vs $613,097 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →