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Political Science and Government at University of Arizona

Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,193/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 11.2x earnings multiple (3.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #142 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$624K	$608K	$550K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.4x	11.2x	10.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.8x	3.7x	3.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	52	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$54,504

Out-of-state: $164,380 (3.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$63,840

-17% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$64,459

78% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,193 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.2x 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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,500 represents roughly 7 months of the $36,193 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #142 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Arizona scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $64,459 show a 78% jump from the $36,193 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Arizona

University of Arizona has a 86% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 40,769 students enrolled in Tucson, AZ.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arizona →

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

Other Majors at University of Arizona

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at University of Arizona?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

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 $549,796 in decade earnings vs $623,619 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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