Political Scienceat Pepperdine University
Graduates earn $42,306/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $711K; scenarios range from $627K to $739K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Pepperdine University
Pepperdine University's Political Science graduates start at $42,306/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.
An earnings multiple of 2.7x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $23,625 debt-to-$42,306 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #249 out of 521 programs, Pepperdine University's Political Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $42,306 to $81,421 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Pepperdine University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Pepperdine University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Pepperdine University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Pepperdine University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Pepperdine University
How does Pepperdine University'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.