Political Science at University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
53
Base Case
50
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,700/yr (-8% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
13.7x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
How AI Changes the Outlook
Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Political Science graduates.
| Optimistic No Disruption |
Base Case Gradual AI |
Pessimistic Aggressive AI |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-Year Earnings | $658K | $639K | $573K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.1x | 13.7x | 12.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.6x | 5.4x | 4.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 53 | 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)
$46,800
Out-of-state: $117,648 (5.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,125
7.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$67,019
99% growth from Year 1
About University of Kansas
A 88% acceptance rate means University of Kansas is accessible to most applicants, serving 19,857 students in Lawrence, KS.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Kansas →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Kansas
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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at University of Kansas?
A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science field.
Will AI replace Political Science careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $572,716 in decade earnings vs $658,079 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Kansas's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #128 of 521 programs nationally, University of Kansas lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →