Program Analysis
First-year earnings of $37,944 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.
The 17.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.
AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $19,160 debt-to-$37,944 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
A #39 ranking out of 521 Political Science and Government programs nationally puts Missouri State University-Springfield in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.
Earnings growth from $37,944 to $67,212 over five years (77% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.