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Political Science and Government at Ashford University

San Diego, CA · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $55,196/yr (50% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #52 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

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 $563K $555K $509K
Earnings Multiple 10.7x 10.5x 9.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 53
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$52,640
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,172
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$54,872
Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $55,196 put Ashford University's Political Science and Government program 50% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 10.5x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $55,196 far exceeding the $27,172 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #52 ranking out of 521 Political Science and Government programs nationally puts Ashford University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

About Ashford University

with 23,734 students enrolled in San Diego, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Ashford University →

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 Ashford University

International Business ($71,369) Business/Managerial Economics ($66,360) Public Administration ($65,503) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($61,466) Management Information Systems and Services ($61,359) Communication and Media Studies ($58,089) Finance and Financial Management Services ($57,566) Marketing ($54,286)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ashford University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
How vulnerable is Political Science and Government to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Political Science and Government careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 50% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →