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Political Science and Government at Indiana University-Indianapolis

Indianapolis, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
55
Optimistic
55
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,535/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #90 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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 $604K $591K $537K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.5x 14.1x 12.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.4x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 55 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,796
Out-of-state: $134,868 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,632
-9% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,019
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,227
70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,535/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from Indiana University-Indianapolis land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.1x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,019 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #90 out of 521 programs, Indiana University-Indianapolis's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $36,535 to $62,227 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Indiana University-Indianapolis

With 81% of applicants admitted, Indiana University-Indianapolis prioritizes broad access, serving 16,582 students in Indianapolis, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana University-Indianapolis →

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 Indiana University-Indianapolis

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($73,122) Computer Engineering ($71,986) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($71,852) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($71,505) Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($70,887) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($70,833) Mechanical Engineering ($69,746) Engineering, Other ($69,685)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Indiana University-Indianapolis's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 55/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
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.
Why does Indiana University-Indianapolis rank so high for Political Science and Government?
The #90 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →