Political Science at University of La Verne

La Verne, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
33
Optimistic
32
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,881/yr (-40% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 4.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #480 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

Program Analysis

The earnings data for Political Science and Government at the University of La Verne might seem surprising, but it often reflects the specific career paths graduates pursue within the Southern California labor market. Rather than funneling into high-paying national political consulting or corporate lobbying, many La Verne alumni find fulfilling roles in local government, community advocacy, or non-profits within the Inland Empire and broader Los Angeles area. These positions, while vital and impactful, typically offer more stable, public-sector-aligned salaries that differ from the national average skewed by graduates entering specific, high-earning niches or immediately pursuing law school. Your success will depend on actively seeking out internships that build tangible skills like data analysis, grant writing, or policy implementation, and strategically networking with local organizations and government offices from your first year.

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 $828K $789K $686K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.2x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 33 32 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$188,000
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$107,700
43% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
12.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,471
227% growth from Year 1

About University of La Verne

A 48% admission rate makes University of La Verne accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a smaller institution with 3,341 students in La Verne, CA. With 48% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum. After financial aid, the average student pays $107,700 over four years — 43% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of La Verne →

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 at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of La Verne

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 La Verne?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Is Political Science at University of La Verne worth the student debt?
Median debt of $22,000 against $21,881/yr starting salary means roughly 1.0 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.
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 $685,770 in decade earnings vs $828,052 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from University of La Verne?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →