Political Science at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
53
Base Case
49
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,208/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
8.9x earnings multiple (4.0x 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 | $602K | $589K | $535K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.1x | 8.9x | 8.1x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 4.1x | 4.0x | 3.7x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 53 | 53 | 49 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,952
Out-of-state: $145,608 (4.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,500
5.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,560
58% growth from Year 1
About University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities accepts 77% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving a student body of 30,469 in Minneapolis, MN.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities →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 Minnesota-Twin Cities
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 Minnesota-Twin Cities's Political Science program score?
This program scores 53/100, 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 Minnesota-Twin Cities rank so high for Political Science?
The #132 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 →