Political Scienceat University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Graduates earn $43,545/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $610K; scenarios range from $551K to $625K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Graduates earn $43,545/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.
AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
At $20,369 in median debt against $43,545 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
Ranked #78 out of 521 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Political Science program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $43,545 to $68,047 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Massachusetts-Amherst's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How University of Massachusetts-Amherst stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Massachusetts-Amherst, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at University of Massachusetts-Amherst
How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Political Science program score?
This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science graduates.
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.
Why does University of Massachusetts-Amherst rank so high for Political Science?
The #78 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.