Political Science at San Diego State University
San Diego, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
62
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$38,060/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
19.6x earnings multiple (8.1x 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 | $670K | $649K | $581K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 20.2x | 19.6x | 17.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 8.3x | 8.1x | 7.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 62 | 61 | 58 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,160
Out-of-state: $80,680 (8.1x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,364
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,987
87% growth from Year 1
About San Diego State University
A 34% acceptance rate puts San Diego State University in competitive admissions territory, with 33,654 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.
See all programs and financial aid at San Diego State University →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
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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 San Diego State University?
A score of 61/100 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 $580,714 in decade earnings vs $670,105 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes San Diego State University's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #19 of 521 programs nationally, San Diego State University lands in the top 5%. 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 →