Political Science at University of Southern Maine
Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
45
Pessimistic
Earnings
$28,589/yr (-22% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
14.4x earnings multiple (5.8x 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 | $645K | $627K | $564K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 14.8x | 14.4x | 12.9x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.9x | 5.8x | 5.2x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 47 | 47 | 45 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$43,680
Out-of-state: $108,416 (5.8x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,594
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$62,143
117% growth from Year 1
About University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 4,245 students in Portland, ME.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →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 Southern Maine
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 Southern Maine?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $563,914 in decade earnings vs $644,848 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from University of Southern Maine?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →