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Political Science and Government at James Madison University

Harrisonburg, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,128/yr (15% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #44 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

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 $633K $617K $556K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.7x 11.4x 10.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.1x 5.0x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,304
Out-of-state: $123,160 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,264
-61% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,286
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,443
62% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $42,128 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from James Madison University earn slightly above the $36,684 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.4x 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.

The median debt load of $19,286 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #44 of 521 programs, James Madison University's Political Science and Government program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $68,443 show a 62% jump from the $42,128 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About James Madison University

With 76% of applicants admitted, James Madison University prioritizes broad access, with 20,497 students enrolled in Harrisonburg, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at James Madison 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

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 James Madison University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($81,761) Information Science/Studies ($80,173) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,490) Accounting and Related Services ($71,563) Engineering, General ($71,176) Finance and Financial Management Services ($67,849) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($65,931) Systems Science and Theory ($65,683)

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at James Madison University?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.
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 $555,913 in decade earnings vs $632,816 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →