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Political Science and Government at University of Houston

Houston, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,413/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 15.2x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #99 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	$601K	$589K	$535K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.5x	15.2x	13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.6x	6.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	55	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,844

Out-of-state: $88,764 (6.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,412

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,355

5.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,848

70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Houston's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $36,413/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

The 15.2x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $17,355 in median debt clears quickly against $36,413 in annual earnings.

Ranked #99 out of 521 programs, University of Houston's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $36,413 to $61,848 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Houston

University of Houston's 70% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, one of the larger campuses at 37,175 students in Houston, TX. With 41% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Houston →

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 Houston

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 Houston's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 55/100, 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 Houston rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #99 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 →