Home › Iowa State University › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at Iowa State University

Ames, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $30,715/yr (-16% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.5x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #206 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$625K	$610K	$551K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.9x	14.5x	13.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	5.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	49	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,988

Out-of-state: $110,732 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,660

-73% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,250

8.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,481

100% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,715/yr fall 16% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,250 represents roughly 9 months of the $30,715 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #206 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Iowa State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $61,481 show a 100% jump from the $30,715 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Iowa State University

Iowa State University has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 25,033 in Ames, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at Iowa State University →

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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Iowa State University

Consider the Trade Route?

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Iowa State University?

A score of 49/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $550,814 in decade earnings vs $625,149 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Iowa State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →