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Social Sciences · Political Science Rank #286 of 521

Political Scienceat Southern New Hampshire University

Graduates earn $41,530/yr in their first year — about 13.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $485K; scenarios range from $457K to $484K depending on AI disruption.

Manchester, NH Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
46 AVERAGE
47
Optimistic
42
Pessimistic
Earnings
$41,530
1-year post-graduation
ROI
5.3x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$485K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Southern New Hampshire University

Southern New Hampshire University's Political Science graduates start at $41,530/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 7.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,208 represents roughly 6 months of the $41,530 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #286 of 521 Political Science programs, Southern New Hampshire University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

AI Outlook Integration

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.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$457K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score42/100
Earnings Multiple6.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$485K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score46/100
Earnings Multiple7.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$484K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score47/100
Earnings Multiple7.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southern New Hampshire University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Political Science graduates typically work

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.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Economics teachers, postsecondary
+2.1% 10-yr growth · 1,200 openings/yr
$119,980/yr
Moderate
4
Economists
+1.2% 10-yr growth · 900 openings/yr
$115,440/yr
High
5
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
6
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Political Science

How Southern New Hampshire University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Dartmouth College
NH · Private nonprofit
62
DW Score
$73K
1-yr earn
2.8x
ROI
Tufts University
MA · Private nonprofit
53
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
3.2x
ROI
Princeton University
NJ · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$63K
1-yr earn
2.9x
ROI
Top score
University of Maryland Global Campus
MD · Public
72
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
21.0x
ROI
Also at Southern New Hampshire University

Other top programs at Southern New Hampshire University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern New Hampshire University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Political Science at Southern New Hampshire University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Southern New Hampshire University?

A score of 46/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $457,192 in decade earnings vs $484,396 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.