Political Science at North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Raleigh, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,316
68% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
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Explore the Trade Alternative
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 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 field.
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 $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 →