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Political Science and Government at Tennessee Technological University

Cookeville, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,105/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.0x earnings multiple (6.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #359 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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	$485K	$486K	$458K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.0x	12.0x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.0x	6.0x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,336

Out-of-state: $80,464 (6.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,828

-41% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,167

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Tennessee Technological University's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $34,105/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.0x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #359 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Tennessee Technological University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $34,105 to $45,167 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Tennessee Technological University

A 83% acceptance rate means Tennessee Technological University is accessible to most applicants, with a mid-sized student body of 8,495 in Cookeville, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at Tennessee Technological 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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Tennessee Technological University?

A score of 42/100 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 $457,622 in decade earnings vs $485,044 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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