Political Science at Ohio University-Main Campus
Athens, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$38,753/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
10.4x earnings multiple (5.9x 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 | $582K | $572K | $522K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 10.6x | 10.4x | 9.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.0x | 5.9x | 5.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 53 | 52 | 49 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$54,984
Out-of-state: $96,456 (5.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,500
7.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,377
56% growth from Year 1
About Ohio University-Main Campus
Ohio University-Main Campus has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 18,456 students in Athens, OH.
See all programs and financial aid at Ohio 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
Other Majors at Ohio University-Main Campus
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 Ohio University-Main Campus?
A score of 52/100 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 $522,183 in decade earnings vs $582,103 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →