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Political Science and Government at The University of Texas at El Paso

El Paso, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
37
Optimistic
36
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,182/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 13.0x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #448 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 $510K $508K $474K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 13.1x 13.0x 12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.0x 5.0x 4.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 37 36 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,976
Out-of-state: $102,048 (5.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$42,904
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,663
9.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,528
74% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $26,182/yr fall 29% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 13.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,663 debt-to-$26,182 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #448 out of 521 programs, The University of Texas at El Paso's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $26,182 to $45,528 over five years (74% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at El Paso

The University of Texas at El Paso has a 100% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 20,547 in El Paso, TX. With 61% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at El Paso →

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 The University of Texas at El Paso

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($74,285) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($73,311) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($72,429) Mechanical Engineering ($62,393) Civil Engineering ($60,287) Music ($56,062) Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions ($54,659) Metallurgical Engineering ($53,478)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does The University of Texas at El Paso's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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.
Why are Political Science and Government earnings lower at The University of Texas at El Paso?
Lower starting pay at The University of Texas at El Paso may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →