Political Scienceat The Catholic University of America
Graduates earn $44,617/yr in their first year — about 22.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $624K; scenarios range from $562K to $642K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Catholic University
First-year earnings of $44,617 at The Catholic University of America come in 22% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science programs.
An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.
AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $25,000 debt-to-$44,617 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #253 out of 521 programs, The Catholic University of America's Political Science offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $44,617 to $70,657 over five years (58% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Catholic University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How Catholic University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Catholic University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Catholic University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at Catholic University
How does The Catholic University of America's Political Science program score?
This program scores 47/100 — 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.