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Political Science and Government at Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree
36 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
36
Optimistic
36
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $30,272/yr (-17% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 9.7x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #442 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 $420K $428K $414K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.5x 9.7x 9.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.5x 4.4x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 36 36 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,332
Out-of-state: $94,732 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$67,092
-51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
9.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $30,272/yr fall 17% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

At 9.7x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 1% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,000 debt-to-$30,272 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #442 out of 521 programs, Western Colorado University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

About Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University has a 97% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,653 students in Gunnison, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Colorado 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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at Western Colorado University

Economics ($53,403) Accounting and Related Services ($47,204) Sociology ($43,178) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($41,886) Psychology, General ($32,352) Biology, General ($29,881) Natural Resources Conservation and Research ($26,123) Parks, Recreation and Leisure Studies ($25,903)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Western Colorado University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 36/100 — 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.
Why are Political Science and Government earnings lower at Western Colorado University?
Lower starting pay at Western Colorado University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →