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Political Science and Government at University of Northern Iowa

Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,875/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #148 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$539K	$534K	$494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.9x	13.7x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.3x	6.3x	5.8x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	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)

$38,912

Out-of-state: $85,088 (6.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,436

-50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,000

7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$54,202

43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Northern Iowa's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $37,875/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $37,875 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #148 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Northern Iowa scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $37,875 to $54,202 over five years — a 43% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Northern Iowa

A 94% acceptance rate means University of Northern Iowa is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 7,599 students in Cedar Falls, IA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Iowa →

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 and Government at Other Schools

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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at University of Northern Iowa?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $493,774 in decade earnings vs $539,395 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →