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Political Science and Government at University of Richmond

University of Richmond, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,253/yr (18% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.4x earnings multiple

Ranked #361 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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	$620K	$605K	$547K
Earnings Multiple	2.5x	2.4x	2.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	43	42	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$250,400

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$133,668

47% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,000

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$67,169

55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $43,253 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Richmond earn slightly above the $36,684 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The financial case is thin at 2.4x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 12% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $43,253 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #361 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Richmond falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $67,169 show a 55% jump from the $43,253 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Richmond

A 23% acceptance rate puts University of Richmond in competitive admissions territory, a smaller institution with 3,002 students in University of Richmond, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $133,668 — 47% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Richmond →

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 Richmond?

A score of 42/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $547,066 in decade earnings vs $619,515 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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