Political Science at Lake Forest College
Lake Forest, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
30
Pessimistic
Earnings
$34,317/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
2.6x earnings multiple
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 | $565K | $557K | $511K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.6x | 2.6x | 2.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 32 | 32 | 30 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$216,808
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,287
64% growth from Year 1
About Lake Forest College
Lake Forest College's 59% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a compact campus enrolling 1,782 students in Lake Forest, IL. The average net cost of $109,996 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.
See all programs and financial aid at Lake Forest College →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 Lake Forest College
Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?
For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Lake Forest College's Political Science program score?
This program scores 32/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →