Political Science at Western Colorado University
Gunnison, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
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)
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 | $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)
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,000
9.5 months of Year 1 earnings
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
Compare & Explore
Political Science at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Colorado University
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 Western Colorado University's Political Science program score?
This program scores 36/100 — on the lower end for Political Science. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Political Science to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science 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 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 →