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Political Science and Government at Merrimack College

North Andover, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
35 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
36
Optimistic
35
Base Case
33
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,619/yr (-3% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #454 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 and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $450K $455K $435K
Earnings Multiple 2.2x 2.2x 2.1x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 35 33

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$207,144
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$151,596
27% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Merrimack College's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $35,619/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.2x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 4% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$35,619 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #454 out of 521 programs, Merrimack College's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Merrimack College

A 74% acceptance rate means Merrimack College is accessible to most applicants, a compact campus enrolling 4,043 students in North Andover, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Merrimack 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 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 Merrimack College

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,659) Civil Engineering ($75,556) Computer Science ($70,256) Mechanical Engineering ($68,615) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($48,018) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($43,323) Biology, General ($41,506) Psychology, General ($34,453)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Merrimack College's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 35/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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 →