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Political Science at Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
29
Optimistic
29
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $28,846/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #507 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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 $412K $421K $409K
Earnings Multiple 2.0x 2.1x 2.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 29 29 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$202,040
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$131,860
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings

About Ithaca College

Ithaca College's 70% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,350 in Ithaca, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $131,860 over four years — 35% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Ithaca College →

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 →

Political Science 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 Ithaca College

Computer Science ($70,239) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($48,249) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,306) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($39,446) Journalism ($34,453) Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences ($32,794) Public Health ($32,112) Radio, Television, and Digital Communication ($30,355)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →

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 does a 29/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Political Science at Ithaca College?
At 29/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Political Science programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Political Science at Ithaca College?
The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Ithaca College a good choice for Political Science despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If Ithaca College's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →