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Political Science and Government at North Dakota State University-Main Campus

Fargo, ND · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,635/yr (-27% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.6x earnings multiple (10.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #267 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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 $704K $679K $603K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.2x 15.6x 13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 11.3x 10.9x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,428
Out-of-state: $62,044 (10.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,336
-50% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,342
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,331
149% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $26,635 place North Dakota State University-Main Campus below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 15.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,342 debt-to-$26,635 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #267 out of 521 programs, North Dakota State University-Main Campus's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,635 to $66,331 over five years (149% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About North Dakota State University-Main Campus

North Dakota State University-Main Campus accepts 96% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 9,567 students in Fargo, ND.

See all programs and financial aid at North Dakota State University-Main Campus →

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 Dakota State University-Main Campus

Computer Engineering ($76,558) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($75,212) Construction Engineering Technologies ($74,199) Civil Engineering ($72,729) Mechanical Engineering ($72,158) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($70,821) Industrial Engineering ($68,873) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($67,303)

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

How does North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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 and Government earnings lower at North Dakota State University-Main Campus?
Lower starting pay at North Dakota State University-Main Campus 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 →