Political Science at Sacred Heart University

Fairfield, CT · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $17,262/yr (-53% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 1.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #494 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

Program Analysis

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.

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 $345K $362K $364K
Earnings Multiple 1.8x 1.9x 1.9x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$193,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$181,836
6% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,750
14.4 months of Year 1 earnings

About Sacred Heart University

Sacred Heart University accepts 68% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, enrolling 6,904 students in Fairfield, CT.

See all programs and financial aid at Sacred Heart University →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr
View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Political Science at Other Schools

Other Majors at Sacred Heart 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

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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →