Political Scienceat Sacred Heart University
Graduates earn $17,262/yr in their first year — about 53.0% below the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $362K; scenarios range from $364K to $345K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Sacred Heart University
The earnings data for Sacred Heart's Political Science program often reflects a common challenge for many humanities majors without a clear, direct career pipeline. While your degree will build strong critical thinking and analytical skills, many graduates initially find themselves in roles that don't immediately leverage that depth, especially without pursuing further education like law school or a specialized master's in public policy or international relations. The regional job market in Fairfield County, while robust in other sectors, might not offer a high volume of entry-level government or policy analyst positions that command higher salaries, leading many to start in general business roles, non-profits, or campaign work before building experience or specializing. The high-paying careers listed on this page typically require advanced degrees or extensive experience, which likely explains the disparity with observed early-career earnings. Given the high AI risk for many analytical roles, actively seek out internships in government, non-profits, or private sector roles that value complex problem-solving, and consider how a complementary minor or early graduate school planning could sharpen your career trajectory.
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 Sacred Heart 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 Sacred Heart University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Sacred Heart University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Sacred Heart 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 Sacred Heart University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Sacred Heart University?
A score of 30/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Political Science at Sacred Heart University worth the student debt?
Median debt of $20,750 against $17,262/yr starting salary means roughly 1.2 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $364,435 in decade earnings vs $344,939 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from Sacred Heart University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.