Political Science at Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
24
Optimistic
24
Base Case
23
Pessimistic
Earnings
$27,689/yr (-25% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
2.2x earnings multiple
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 | $542K | $536K | $495K |
| Earnings Multiple | 2.2x | 2.2x | 2.0x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 24 | 24 | 23 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$245,968
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,750
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,141
81% growth from Year 1
About Whitman College
Whitman College's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,523 students in Walla Walla, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $142,024 — 42% less than the list price.
See all programs and financial aid at Whitman College →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 Whitman 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
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at Whitman College?
A score of 24/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $495,328 in decade earnings vs $541,730 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science from Whitman College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →