Political Science at University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
45
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,226
68% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science 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 program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science 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 →