Political Science and Government at University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
57
Optimistic
56
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $31,574/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 26.7x earnings multiple (5.9x out-of-state)
Ranked #71 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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 $705K $681K $604K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 27.6x 26.7x 23.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.2x 5.9x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 57 56 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$25,524
Out-of-state: $114,636 (5.9x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,404
0% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,000
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,551
123% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,574 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 26.7x 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.

At $15,000 in median debt against $31,574 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #71 out of 521 programs, University of Florida's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $31,574 to $70,551 over five years (123% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Florida

University of Florida admits 24% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 34,102 students enrolled in Gainesville, FL.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Florida →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Florida's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 56/100, 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.
Why does University of Florida rank so high for Political Science and Government?
The #71 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →