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Political Science and Government at University of South Florida

Tampa, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,965/yr (-5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 22.3x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #72 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$582K	$572K	$522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	22.7x	22.3x	20.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.4x	8.2x	7.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	56	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,640

Out-of-state: $69,296 (8.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$40,172

-57% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,900

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,714

68% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,965 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.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $17,900 represents roughly 6 months of the $34,965 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #72 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $58,714 show a 68% jump from the $34,965 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of South Florida

With a 41% acceptance rate, University of South Florida is moderately selective, with 36,299 students enrolled in Tampa, FL.

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

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 South Florida?

A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

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 $522,086 in decade earnings vs $581,959 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of South Florida's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #72 of 521 programs nationally, University of South Florida lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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