Political Science at University of California-Davis
Davis, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$13,687
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,407
81% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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 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 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 $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 →