Home › University of Michigan-Ann Arbor › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree
57 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
58
Optimistic
57
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,702/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.1x earnings multiple (3.0x out-of-state)
Ranked #65 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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 $727K $699K $618K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 10.5x 10.1x 9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 3.1x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 57 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,912
Out-of-state: $232,288 (3.0x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,328
14% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,965
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,402
97% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,702/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 10.1x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $17,965 in median debt against $39,702 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #65 out of 521 programs, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $39,702 to $78,402 over five years (97% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor admits 18% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, with 33,488 students enrolled in Ann Arbor, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor →

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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($113,634) Computer Software and Media Applications ($98,117) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($93,674) Computer Engineering ($92,501) Information Science/Studies ($88,515) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($87,606) Industrial Engineering ($86,476) Mechanical Engineering ($82,823)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 57/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
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.
Why does University of Michigan-Ann Arbor rank so high for Political Science and Government?
The #65 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →