Political Science at Muhlenberg College

Allentown, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $25,058/yr (-32% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 4.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #411 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

Program Analysis

The financial data for Muhlenberg's Political Science and Government program reflects a common reality for liberal arts graduates in this field, particularly outside major political or financial centers. Your education here emphasizes critical thinking, research, and communication – highly transferable skills – but initial career paths often lead to roles in local government, non-profits, advocacy, or generalist business positions where starting salaries tend to be more modest. This is less about the quality of the program and more about the nature of a broad liberal arts degree in a regional labor market like Allentown, where direct, high-paying recruitment pipelines for these specific roles are less established than in, say, Washington D.C. or New York. Many of the highest-earning careers associated with political science typically require further education, like law school or a master's in public policy. To enhance your post-graduation earnings, proactively seek out internships in your desired sector and consider a complementary minor in economics, data science, or business.

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 $1,152K $1,075K $901K
Earnings Multiple 4.8x 4.5x 3.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 39 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$240,960
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$121,256
50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,909
12.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$98,108
292% growth from Year 1

About Muhlenberg College

With a 64% acceptance rate, Muhlenberg College is moderately selective, a smaller institution with 1,777 students in Allentown, PA. The average net cost of $121,256 over four years represents a 50% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Muhlenberg College →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at Muhlenberg College

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 Muhlenberg College's Political Science program score?
This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Muhlenberg College Political Science graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.1x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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.
Why are Political Science earnings lower at Muhlenberg College?
Lower starting pay at Muhlenberg College may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →