Political Science at William Paterson University of New Jersey
Wayne, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Political Science and Government
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings
$37,801/yr (3% vs median)
AI Risk
Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI
8.9x earnings multiple (5.5x 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 | $549K | $542K | $500K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 9.1x | 8.9x | 8.3x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 5.6x | 5.5x | 5.1x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 50% | 44% | 33% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 48 | 47 | 44 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$60,600
Out-of-state: $97,856 (5.5x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,875
7.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,485
47% growth from Year 1
About William Paterson University of New Jersey
With 93% of applicants admitted, William Paterson University of New Jersey prioritizes broad access, enrolling 6,526 students in Wayne, NJ. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.
See all programs and financial aid at William Paterson University of New Jersey →Top Career Paths
Political scientists
$139,380/yr
Managers, all other
$136,550/yr
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980/yr
Compare & Explore
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science at William Paterson University of New Jersey?
A score of 47/100 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 $499,994 in decade earnings vs $548,745 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →