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Political Science and Government at South Dakota State University

Brookings, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,337/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.9x earnings multiple (10.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #273 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science and Government graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$521K	$518K	$482K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.0x	13.9x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.2x	10.1x	9.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$37,196

Out-of-state: $51,236 (10.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$72,876

-96% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,250

8.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,433

47% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,337 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.9x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,250 represents roughly 8 months of the $34,337 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #273 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, South Dakota State University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $34,337 to $50,433 over five years — a 47% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University has a 99% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 8,798 students in Brookings, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at South Dakota State University →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980/yr

View all 7 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at South Dakota State University?

A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $481,682 in decade earnings vs $521,213 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →