Political Science at Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,944/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
17.2x earnings multiple (8.7x out-of-state)
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 | $639K | $622K | $560K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 17.7x | 17.2x | 15.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.9x | 8.7x | 7.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 60 | 59 | 56 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$36,096
Out-of-state: $71,712 (8.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,160
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,212
77% growth from Year 1
About Missouri State University-Springfield
Missouri State University-Springfield has a 91% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 13,407 students in Springfield, MO.
See all programs and financial aid at Missouri State University-Springfield →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 Missouri State University-Springfield
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 Missouri State University-Springfield's Political Science program score?
This program scores 59/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science graduates.
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 →