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Political Science and Government at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,514/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 10.3x earnings multiple (3.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #79 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	$678K	$656K	$586K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.6x	10.3x	9.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.9x	3.8x	3.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	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)

$63,952

Out-of-state: $173,488 (3.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$83,004

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$72,691

84% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,514 at Michigan State University come in 8% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.3x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $39,514 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #79 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $72,691 show a 84% jump from the $39,514 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Michigan State University

Michigan State University accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 40,243 in East Lansing, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Michigan State University →

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 Michigan State University

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 Michigan State University?

A score of 56/100 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 $585,780 in decade earnings vs $677,722 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Michigan State University's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #79 of 521 programs nationally, Michigan State University 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 →