Political Science at North Dakota State University-Main Campus
Fargo, ND · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,342
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,331
149% growth from Year 1
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
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
How does North Dakota State University-Main Campus's Political Science program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 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 →