Political Science at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Pittsburgh, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,390/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
6.8x earnings multiple (3.7x 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 | $603K | $590K | $536K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 7.0x | 6.8x | 6.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 3.8x | 3.7x | 3.4x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 46 | 45 | 43 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$86,096
Out-of-state: $159,560 (3.7x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,415
7.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,478
74% growth from Year 1
About University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus accepts 50% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, serving a student body of 20,189 in Pittsburgh, PA.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus →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 Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
Explore the Trade Alternative
Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $535,756 in decade earnings vs $602,512 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →