Political Science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,723/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
9.4x earnings multiple (4.5x 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 | $667K | $647K | $579K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.7x | 9.4x | 8.4x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.6x | 4.5x | 4.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 56 | 55 | 51 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (4.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,531
80% growth from Year 1
About Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Rutgers University-New Brunswick's 65% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 36,357 in New Brunswick, NJ.
See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
A score of 55/100 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 $578,653 in decade earnings vs $667,007 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #95 of 521 programs nationally, Rutgers University-New Brunswick lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →