Political Scienceat Troy University
Graduates earn $46,279/yr in their first year — about 26.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $554K; scenarios range from $509K to $562K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Troy University
First-year earnings of $46,279 put Troy University's Political Science program 26% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.
Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science programs nationally.
Some AI exposure exists in Political Science's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.
Median debt of $25,125 represents roughly 7 months of the $46,279 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.
At #18 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.
Earnings grow from $46,279 to $59,990 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career 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 Troy 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 Troy University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Troy University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Troy 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 Troy University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Troy University?
A score of 61/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science field.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $508,670 in decade earnings vs $561,789 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Troy University's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #18 of 521 programs nationally, Troy University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.