Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $32,289 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 15.8x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $24,519 debt-to-$32,289 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #111 out of 521 programs, Kansas State University's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $32,289 to $72,168 over five years (124% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.