Political Science at University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
49
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,202
43% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of Northern Iowa
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 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 field.
Will AI replace Political Science 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 →