Home › Whittier College › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at Whittier College

Whittier, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
32 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
32
Optimistic
32
Base Case
31
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,616/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #481 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 $652K $633K $568K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.2x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 32 32 31

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$199,456
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$119,484
40% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,587
115% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,616 place Whittier College below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

An earnings multiple of 3.2x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #481 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Whittier College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $63,587 show a 115% jump from the $29,616 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Whittier College

Whittier College accepts 85% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 812 students in Whittier, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $119,484 over four years — 40% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Whittier 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

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 Whittier College

Business Administration, Management and Operations ($40,073) Biology, General ($32,139) Psychology, General ($30,321) English Language and Literature, General ($26,317) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($24,055) Social Sciences, General ($20,660)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Whittier College?
A score of 32/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $568,417 in decade earnings vs $651,617 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Whittier 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 →