Political Scienceat Mount Holyoke College
Graduates earn $48,690/yr in their first year — about 33.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $588K; scenarios range from $535K to $601K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Mount Holyoke College
The impressive financial outcomes for Mount Holyoke Political Science and Government graduates reflect the program's rigorous academic environment and the college's strong reputation for cultivating sophisticated analytical and communication skills. As a leading liberal arts institution, Mount Holyoke emphasizes critical thinking, research, and persuasive writing, which are highly valued by employers across various sectors, not just traditional politics.
Graduates often leverage these strengths to excel in roles requiring complex problem-solving and strategic leadership, from policy analysis and advocacy to management consulting or international relations. The program's location in Massachusetts, near Boston, also provides access to robust professional networks and internship opportunities in government, non-profits, and private industry that actively recruit intellectually agile candidates. While some data-driven tasks face automation risk, the strategic judgment, ethical reasoning, and leadership abilities you develop are uniquely human and highly sought after. Focus on internships that translate your strong academic foundation into practical experience in policy, project management, or advocacy to maximize your post-graduation opportunities.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Mount Holyoke College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Mount Holyoke College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Mount Holyoke College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Mount Holyoke College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Mount Holyoke College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Mount Holyoke College?
A score of 44/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $534,561 in decade earnings vs $600,717 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Mount Holyoke College a hidden gem for Political Science?
After financial aid, the average student pays $118,248 over four years — 54% below the $256,568 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.