Political Science at University of South Florida
Tampa, FL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
56
Base Case
53
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)
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) | 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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,900
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,714
68% growth from Year 1
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at University of South Florida
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 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 field.
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 $522,086 in decade earnings vs $581,959 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of South Florida's Political Science 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 →