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Political Science and Government at Stephen F Austin State University

Nacogdoches, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,386/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (6.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #219 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$581K	$571K	$522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.5x	12.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.0x	6.9x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	50	49	47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$42,400

Out-of-state: $82,720 (6.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,608

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,375

7.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,886

73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,386/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from Stephen F Austin State University land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.5x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,375 represents roughly 7 months of the $33,386 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #219 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Stephen F Austin State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $57,886 show a 73% jump from the $33,386 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Stephen F Austin State University

With 88% of applicants admitted, Stephen F Austin State University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 8,746 in Nacogdoches, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at Stephen F Austin 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Stephen F Austin 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 and Government at Stephen F Austin State University?

A score of 49/100 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 $521,719 in decade earnings vs $581,409 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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