Home › University of Kentucky › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,745/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 10.8x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #225 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	$579K	$569K	$520K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	10.8x	9.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.3x	4.3x	3.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	48	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$52,848

Out-of-state: $133,624 (4.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,872

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,226

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,745/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Kentucky land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 10.8x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$34,745 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #225 out of 521 programs, University of Kentucky's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $34,745 to $58,226 over five years (68% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Kentucky

With 92% of applicants admitted, University of Kentucky prioritizes broad access, one of the larger campuses at 23,189 students in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

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 Kentucky

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 Kentucky's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

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 →