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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #515 of 521

Political Scienceat Saint Johns University

Graduates earn $20,939/yr in their first year — about 43.0% below the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $725K; scenarios range from $638K to $756K depending on AI disruption.

Collegeville, MN Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
27 AT RISK
27
Optimistic
26
Pessimistic
Earnings
$20,939
1-year post-graduation
ROI
2.0x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$725K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Saint Johns University

Your initial earnings for Political Science and Government from Saint John's reflect a few key dynamics. As a private liberal arts institution outside a major metropolitan hub, many graduates may choose to stay within the regional labor market. Entry-level government, non-profit, or local business roles in Minnesota often offer more modest starting salaries compared to those in major political or economic centers like Washington D.C. or New York. The program likely emphasizes broad critical thinking and analytical skills, which are excellent long-term assets but don't always translate into immediate high-paying, specialized roles right after graduation. Many graduates may pursue further education, like law school or a master's in public policy, which defers higher earnings while they gain advanced qualifications. To maximize your career prospects, actively seek internships in diverse sectors and consider pairing your degree with practical skills in data analysis or project management.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$638K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score26/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$725K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score27/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$756K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score27/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Saint Johns University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Political Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Political Science

How Saint Johns University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
72
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
21.0x
ROI
Also at Saint Johns University

Other top programs at Saint Johns University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Saint Johns 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Political Science at Saint Johns University

How does Saint Johns University's Political Science program score?

This program scores 27/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

Do Saint Johns University Political Science graduates earn enough to justify the loans?

The debt-to-income ratio of 1.3x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.

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.

Why are Political Science earnings lower at Saint Johns University?

Lower starting pay at Saint Johns University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.