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Political Science and Government at University of Houston-Downtown

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings $38,095/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.7x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #137 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 $518K $515K $480K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.8x 16.7x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.3x 7.2x 6.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$30,832
Out-of-state: $71,152 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$58,492
-90% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,646
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$51,203
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $38,095/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 16.7x 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 7% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,646 debt-to-$38,095 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #137 out of 521 programs, University of Houston-Downtown's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $38,095 to $51,203 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Houston-Downtown

University of Houston-Downtown accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 12,812 students in Houston, TX. With 52% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston-Downtown →

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 Houston-Downtown

Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians ($68,144) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($56,475) Accounting and Related Services ($54,128) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($53,764) Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians ($51,840) Management Information Systems and Services ($51,314) Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences ($50,894) Mathematics ($49,496)

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

How does University of Houston-Downtown's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 53/100, 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 →