Political Science and Government at University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,345/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.9x earnings multiple (3.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #188 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 $687K $665K $592K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 10.9x 9.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.7x 3.6x 3.2x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 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)
$61,060
Out-of-state: $184,168 (3.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$47,000
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$69,947
110% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $33,345/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from University of California-San Diego land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 10.9x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $15,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #188 out of 521 programs, University of California-San Diego's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $33,345 to $69,947 over five years (110% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-San Diego

A 25% acceptance rate puts University of California-San Diego in competitive admissions territory, with 33,787 students enrolled in La Jolla, CA.

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

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-San Diego

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

How does University of California-San Diego's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →