Political Science at Temple University
Philadelphia, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,011/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
6.6x earnings multiple (3.9x 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 | $599K | $587K | $533K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 6.8x | 6.6x | 6.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.0x | 3.9x | 3.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 45 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$88,328
Out-of-state: $149,848 (3.9x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,881
8.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,331
70% growth from Year 1
About Temple University
Temple University has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 21,249 students enrolled in Philadelphia, PA.
See all programs and financial aid at Temple 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 Temple 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
How does Temple University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →