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Political Science and Government at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
55
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,321/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.9x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #43 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $614K $600K $543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.9x 15.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.8x 4.7x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,580
Out-of-state: $127,068 (4.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,724
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,316
68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,321/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.9x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $38,321 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #43 of 521 programs, North Carolina State University at Raleigh's Political Science and Government program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $64,316 show a 68% jump from the $38,321 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About North Carolina State University at Raleigh

North Carolina State University at Raleigh accepts 40% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving a student body of 26,389 in Raleigh, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at North Carolina State University at Raleigh →

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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Computer Science ($85,809) Computer Engineering ($82,997) Chemical Engineering ($81,492) Industrial Engineering ($81,055) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($77,687) Construction Engineering ($76,574) Nuclear Engineering ($74,540) Materials Engineering ($74,058)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at North Carolina State University at Raleigh?
A score of 59/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $543,374 in decade earnings vs $613,966 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →