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Political Science and Government at Northwestern University

Evanston, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,737/yr (49% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #175 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$655K	$636K	$570K
Earnings Multiple	2.5x	2.4x	2.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$263,988

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$108,572

59% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,834

3.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$76,128

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $54,737 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Northwestern University significantly outpace the $36,684 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

An earnings multiple of 2.4x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $16,834 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #175 out of 521 programs, Northwestern University's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $54,737 to $76,128 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northwestern University

With just 7% of applicants admitted, Northwestern University ranks among the nation's most selective schools, with a mid-sized student body of 8,960 in Evanston, IL. The average net cost of $108,572 over four years represents a 59% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Northwestern University →

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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northwestern University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northwestern University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 51/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.

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.

How affordable is Political Science and Government at Northwestern University after financial aid?

Sticker price is $263,988, but the average net cost is $108,572 — a 59% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →