Home › University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Oshkosh, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,366/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #167 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$489K	$490K	$460K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.9x	14.9x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.6x	7.6x	7.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	53	52	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)

$32,848

Out-of-state: $64,500 (7.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,044

-80% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$24,889

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $42,366 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh earn slightly above the $36,684 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.9x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $24,889 represents roughly 7 months of the $42,366 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #167 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

About University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh

With 87% of applicants admitted, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh prioritizes broad access, serving 7,613 students in Oshkosh, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh →

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 Wisconsin-Oshkosh

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh?

A score of 52/100 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 $460,387 in decade earnings vs $489,200 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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