Political Science and Government: University of Pennsylvania vs Yale University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Yale University
New Haven, CT
3.2x
$264,416 tuition
3.8x
$258,800 tuition
$845,181 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$974,268 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

University of Pennsylvania Yale University
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.8x
4-Year Tuition $264,416 $258,800
Year 1 Earnings $65,473 $57,466
10-Year Earnings $845K $974K
Median Debt $14,250 $14,749
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.6 months 3.1 months
DegreeWorth Score 49/100 50/100
Acceptance Rate 5.9% 4.5%

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.

University of Pennsylvania Yale University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $264,416 $258,800
10-Year Projected Earnings $845K $974K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 3.2x 3.8x
5-Year Salary Growth +71% +115%

"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.

University of Pennsylvania Yale University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $892K $845K $728K $1,038K $974K $825K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.2x 2.8x 4.0x 3.8x 3.2x
DegreeWorth Score 51 49 44 52 50 44

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

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap
$5,616
Yale University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$8,007/yr
University of Pennsylvania grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
3.2x / 3.8x
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%
Want to compare different schools or majors? Try the freeform comparison tool →

Explore Each Program

More Political Science and Government Comparisons

Political Science and Government Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Political Science and Government: University of Pennsylvania or Yale University?
University of Pennsylvania scores 49/100 while Yale University scores 50/100. Yale 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?
University of Pennsylvania has an in-state earnings multiple of 3.2x vs Yale University's 3.8x. That means Yale University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do University of Pennsylvania and Yale University compare on Political Science and Government earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $65,473 at University of Pennsylvania vs $57,466 at Yale University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $845,181 vs $974,268 — a difference of $129,087.
How much does Political Science and Government cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $264,416 at University of Pennsylvania and $258,800 at Yale University. Median debt at graduation is $14,250 vs $14,749. 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.