Political Scienceat University of Notre Dame
Graduates earn $55,316/yr in their first year — about 51.0% above the national Political Science average. Base-case 10-year earnings $669K; scenarios range from $595K to $692K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Notre Dame
Your Notre Dame political science degree signals rigorous analytical and communication skills, highly prized across diverse sectors far beyond just government. The university's strong national reputation and dedicated alumni network create powerful recruiting pipelines, particularly into top law schools, management consulting firms, and financial institutions, explaining the robust career outcomes. While the data notes a "Very High" AI risk, this often pertains to routine data analysis and research tasks, not the critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and high-level strategic communication that remain core to advanced policy, legal, or leadership positions. To maximize your prospects, actively engage with Notre Dame's career services and alumni network from day one; these connections are invaluable for translating your versatile liberal arts education into specific, high-impact opportunities.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Notre Dame's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Political Science
How University of Notre Dame stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Notre Dame
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Notre Dame, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Political Science offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Political Science trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Political Science at University of Notre Dame
How does University of Notre Dame's Political Science program score?
This program scores 54/100, 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 Notre Dame rank so high for Political Science?
The #110 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.
How affordable is Political Science at University of Notre Dame after financial aid?
Sticker price is $250,772, but the average net cost is $111,292 — a 56% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.