Political Science at San Francisco State University
San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,502/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
22.5x earnings multiple (8.7x 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 | $692K | $669K | $595K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 23.3x | 22.5x | 20.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 9.0x | 8.7x | 7.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 61 | 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)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (8.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,200
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,521
99% growth from Year 1
About San Francisco State University
A 96% acceptance rate means San Francisco State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 20,033 students in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at San Francisco State University →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Compare Political Science
Other Majors at San Francisco State University
Consider the Trade Route?
Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at San Francisco 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 $595,097 in decade earnings vs $691,729 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes San Francisco State University's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #20 of 521 programs nationally, San Francisco 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 →