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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #411 of 521

Political Scienceat Muhlenberg College

Graduates earn $25,058/yr in their first year — about 32.0% below the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $1,075K; scenarios range from $901K to $1,152K depending on AI disruption.

Allentown, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
39 AT RISK
40
Optimistic
38
Pessimistic
Earnings
$25,058
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$1,075K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Muhlenberg College

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.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$901K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple3.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$1,075K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple4.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$1,152K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score40/100
Earnings Multiple4.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Muhlenberg College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Political Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Political Science

How Muhlenberg College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
Same state (PA)
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
72
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
21.0x
ROI
Also at Muhlenberg College

Other top programs at Muhlenberg College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Muhlenberg 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Political Science at Muhlenberg College

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.