Political Scienceat Smith College
Graduates earn $42,327/yr in their first year — about 15.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $584K; scenarios range from $531K to $596K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Smith College
As a graduate of a highly selective institution like Smith, your Political Science and Government degree signals far more than just academic knowledge. It's a testament to your rigorous analytical, research, and communication skills, which are incredibly valuable across diverse sectors. You'll find graduates excelling in policy analysis for NGOs, strategic roles in consulting, legal professions, and management positions where critical thinking and persuasive communication are paramount. The broad career paths listed reflect this versatility, often leveraging Smith's strong alumni network for placement in competitive environments beyond Northampton, towards Boston, NYC, or Washington D.C. While the core discipline faces significant AI risk, the depth of critical thinking cultivated here is your greatest asset. To truly thrive, actively seek internships that translate your policy understanding into practical applications, perhaps pairing your studies with data analytics or a specific regional focus to build a more direct career pipeline.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Smith College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Smith College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Smith College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Smith College, 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 →Frequently asked about Political Science at Smith College
What does a 40/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Political Science at Smith College?
At 40/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring Political Science programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Should I worry about AI if I study Political Science at Smith College?
The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Political Science at Smith College?
The 57% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $246,272. At a net cost of $104,724, the earnings multiple improves substantially.