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Political Science and Government at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Denver, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,920/yr (9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 12.7x earnings multiple (4.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #108 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$554K	$547K	$503K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.8x	12.7x	11.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.7x	4.6x	4.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,120

Out-of-state: $118,012 (4.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,176

-33% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,000

6.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,951

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Metropolitan State University of Denver's Political Science and Government graduates start at $39,920/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.7x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,920 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #108 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $39,920 to $56,951 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Metropolitan State University of Denver

A 99% acceptance rate means Metropolitan State University of Denver is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 14,932 students in Denver, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Metropolitan State University of Denver →

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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Metropolitan State University of Denver

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Metropolitan State University of Denver?

A score of 54/100 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 $503,487 in decade earnings vs $553,994 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Metropolitan State University of Denver's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #108 of 521 programs nationally, Metropolitan State University of Denver lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →