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Political Science and Government: Harvard University vs University of Pennsylvania

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
3.8x
$236,304 tuition
3.2x
$264,416 tuition
$901,499 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$845,181 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

Harvard University University of Pennsylvania
Earnings Multiple 3.8x 3.2x
4-Year Tuition $236,304 $264,416
Year 1 Earnings $61,543 $65,473
10-Year Earnings $901K $845K
DegreeWorth Score 51/100 49/100
Acceptance Rate 3.5% 5.9%

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (50% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Political Science and Government graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Political Science and Government graduates.

Harvard University University of Pennsylvania
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $236,304 $264,416
10-Year Projected Earnings $901K $845K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.8x 3.2x
5-Year Salary Growth +91% +71%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Political Science and Government (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

Harvard University University of Pennsylvania
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $955K $901K $770K $892K $845K $728K
Earnings Multiple 4.0x 3.8x 3.3x 3.4x 3.2x 2.8x
DegreeWorth Score 52 51 45 51 49 44

For the full AI analysis of Political Science and Government career paths, see the Harvard University or University of Pennsylvania program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Political Science and Government graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$28,112
Harvard University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$3,930/yr
University of Pennsylvania grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
3.8x / 3.2x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Political Science and Government graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Political scientists $139,380 500 -3.1% 48%
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980 1,200 +2.1% 48%
Economists $115,440 900 +1.2% 61%
Political science teachers, postsecondary $94,680 1,600 +2.0% 48%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Social science research assistants $58,040 5,200 +4.4% 67%
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Explore Each Program

Political Science and Government at Harvard University → Political Science and Government at University of Pennsylvania →

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Political Science and Government Overview

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Political Science and Government: Harvard University or University of Pennsylvania?
Harvard University scores 51/100 while University of Pennsylvania scores 49/100. Harvard University has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Political Science and Government?
Harvard University has an in-state earnings multiple of 3.8x vs University of Pennsylvania's 3.2x. That means Harvard University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $28,112 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania compare on Political Science and Government earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $61,543 at Harvard University vs $65,473 at University of Pennsylvania. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $901,499 vs $845,181 — a difference of $56,318.
How much does Political Science and Government cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $236,304 at Harvard University and $264,416 at University of Pennsylvania. Both programs lead to the same Political Science and Government career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.