Political Science at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,042/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
16.0x earnings multiple (7.4x 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 | $534K | $529K | $490K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 16.2x | 16.0x | 14.8x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 7.4x | 7.4x | 6.8x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 56 | 55 | 51 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$33,000
Out-of-state: $71,664 (7.4x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,562
6.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$53,769
38% growth from Year 1
About University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater accepts 83% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 9,180 students in Whitewater, WI.
See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater →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 Wisconsin-Whitewater
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 at University of Wisconsin-Whitewater?
A score of 55/100 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 $490,011 in decade earnings vs $533,741 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes University of Wisconsin-Whitewater's Political Science program stand out?
Ranked #102 of 521 programs nationally, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 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 →