Political Science at Stephen F Austin State University
Nacogdoches, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
50
Optimistic
49
Base Case
47
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,375
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,886
73% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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 at Stephen F Austin State University?
A score of 49/100 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 $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 →