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Political Science and Government at University of South Dakota

Vermillion, SD · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,973/yr (-13% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.0x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #308 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	$532K	$527K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.1x	14.0x	13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.3x	10.2x	9.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	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)

$37,728

Out-of-state: $51,768 (10.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,620

-103% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,000

9.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,941

59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,973 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 14.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$31,973 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #308 out of 521 programs, University of South Dakota's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,973 to $50,941 over five years (59% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Dakota

University of South Dakota has a 99% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 5,239 students in Vermillion, SD.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Dakota →

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

Other Majors at University of South Dakota

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

How does University of South Dakota's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 45/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government 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 →