Political Science at University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
52
Base Case
49
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)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science 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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
6.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,459
78% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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 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 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 $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 →