Program Analysis
At $38,060/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from San Diego State University land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 19.6x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.
The median debt load of $17,364 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.
At #19 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Five-year earnings of $70,987 show a 87% jump from the $38,060 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.