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Political Science and Government at Washington State University

Pullman, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,130/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (4.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #101 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$581K	$570K	$521K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.2x	11.0x	10.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.9x	4.5x
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)

$51,988

Out-of-state: $116,292 (4.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,604

-11% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,150

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,086

49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,130/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.0x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,150 debt-to-$41,130 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #101 out of 521 programs, Washington State University's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $41,130 to $61,086 shows 49% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Washington State University

Washington State University has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 21,583 students enrolled in Pullman, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Washington State University →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

This program scores 55/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.

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.

Why does Washington State University rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #101 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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