Political Science at Portland State University
Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
46
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,173/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
11.5x earnings multiple (4.3x 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 | $522K | $518K | $482K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 11.6x | 11.5x | 10.7x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.3x | 4.3x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 46 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,952
Out-of-state: $120,552 (4.3x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,083
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,807
44% growth from Year 1
About Portland State University
Portland State University accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 13,619 in Portland, OR.
See all programs and financial aid at Portland State University →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 Portland State University
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 Portland State University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 46/100 — 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →