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Political Science and Government at Washington College

Chestertown, MD · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,741/yr (0% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #402 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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	$639K	$622K	$560K
Earnings Multiple	2.9x	2.9x	2.6x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	39	39	36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$217,424

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$116,380

46% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,250

7.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,538

81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $36,741/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$36,741 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #402 out of 521 programs, Washington College's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $36,741 to $66,538 over five years (81% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Washington College

A 66% admission rate makes Washington College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 890 students in Chestertown, MD. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $116,380 — 46% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington College →

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 Washington College

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

How does Washington College's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 39/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.

How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

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