Political Science at University of South Carolina-Upstate
Spartanburg, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings
$35,798/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
12.3x 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 | $582K | $572K | $522K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 12.6x | 12.3x | 11.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 6.5x | 6.3x | 5.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 52 | 51 | 48 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$46,332
Out-of-state: $90,180 (6.3x ROI)
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,145
65% growth from Year 1
About University of South Carolina-Upstate
University of South Carolina-Upstate's 70% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,008 in Spartanburg, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 45% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Upstate →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
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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
How does University of South Carolina-Upstate's Political Science program score?
This program scores 51/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →