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Political Science and Government at Stony Brook University

Stony Brook, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
60
Optimistic
60
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,480/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.8x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #29 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

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 $739K $710K $627K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.5x 16.8x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 5.9x 5.2x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 60 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$42,240
Out-of-state: $121,400 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,720
-75% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,500
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,623
113% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Stony Brook University's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $36,480/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.8x 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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,500 in median debt clears quickly against $36,480 in annual earnings.

Ranked #29 of 521 programs, Stony Brook University's Political Science and Government program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $77,623 show a 113% jump from the $36,480 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Stony Brook University

Stony Brook University's 49% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, enrolling 17,420 students in Stony Brook, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Stony Brook 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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at Stony Brook University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($94,853) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($92,286) Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions ($92,165) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($90,673) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($79,571) Computer Engineering ($73,820) Chemical Engineering ($72,868) Civil Engineering ($71,856)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Stony Brook University?
A score of 60/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.
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 $626,544 in decade earnings vs $739,009 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →