Political Science at Kansas State University
Manhattan, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
54
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings
$32,289/yr (-12% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
15.8x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)
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 | $716K | $690K | $611K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.4x | 15.8x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.4x | 6.2x | 5.5x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 54 | 54 | 52 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,768
Out-of-state: $111,264 (6.2x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,519
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,168
124% growth from Year 1
About Kansas State University
Kansas State University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 14,835 students in Manhattan, KS.
See all programs and financial aid at Kansas State University →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at Kansas State University
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kansas State University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science graduates.
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 does Kansas State University rank so high for Political Science?
The #111 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →