Home › University of California-Davis › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of California-Davis

Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,208/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #171 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	$631K	$615K	$555K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.4x	10.1x	9.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.3x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	51	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$60,988

Out-of-state: $184,096 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$61,152

-0% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$13,687

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,407

81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Davis's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $36,208/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.1x 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.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $13,687 in median debt clears quickly against $36,208 in annual earnings.

At #171 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of California-Davis scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $65,407 show a 81% jump from the $36,208 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Davis

University of California-Davis's 42% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with 31,777 students enrolled in Davis, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Davis →

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 California-Davis

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 California-Davis?

A score of 51/100 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 $555,002 in decade earnings vs $631,448 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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