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Political Science and Government at University of California-Merced

Merced, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,153/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #363 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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 $613K $599K $543K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.8x 10.6x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.4x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$56,668
Out-of-state: $179,776 (3.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$50,976
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,132
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,111
103% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of California-Merced's Political Science and Government graduates start at $29,153/yr, trailing the $36,684 national average by 21%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 10.6x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $17,132 represents roughly 7 months of the $29,153 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #363 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of California-Merced falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $59,111 show a 103% jump from the $29,153 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of California-Merced

Admission to University of California-Merced is competitive, with 39% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

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

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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at University of California-Merced

Mechanical Engineering ($67,096) Computer Engineering ($58,835) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($57,223) Economics ($51,212) Chemistry ($50,944) Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($47,028) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($46,378) Applied Mathematics ($39,138)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at University of California-Merced?
A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $542,552 in decade earnings vs $612,733 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from University of California-Merced?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →