Political Scienceat Iona University
Graduates earn $18,148/yr in their first year — about 51.0% below the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $367K; scenarios range from $368K to $350K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Iona University
Iona's Political Science and Government program, while ideally positioned near New York City's diverse opportunities, appears to face challenges in launching graduates into the higher-earning sectors of the field. Many programs with strong early career outcomes for this major benefit from dedicated pipelines to competitive roles in finance, consulting, federal government, or immediately prepare students for law school or graduate programs. Here, graduates might more commonly enter local government, advocacy groups, non-profits, or general administrative roles in the competitive tri-state area. These positions, while valuable, typically don't command the same early-career salaries as those requiring advanced degrees or specific, high-demand skills. To counter this trend, you'll need to proactively build your resume with targeted internships and networking from day one.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Iona University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Iona University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Iona University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Iona University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Iona University
How does Iona University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 30/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Iona University Political Science graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.4x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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.
Why are Political Science earnings lower at Iona University?
Lower starting pay at Iona University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.