Political Science at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings
$36,364/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
14.9x earnings multiple (5.4x 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 | $617K | $602K | $545K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 15.3x | 14.9x | 13.5x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.6x | 5.4x | 4.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 56 | 55 | 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)
$40,432
Out-of-state: $110,992 (5.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,703
75% growth from Year 1
About University of Nebraska-Lincoln
With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Nebraska-Lincoln prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 18,887 in Lincoln, NE.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →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 Nebraska-Lincoln
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
How does University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Political Science program score?
This program scores 55/100, 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 Nebraska-Lincoln rank so high for Political Science?
The #93 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 →