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Political Science and Government at Barnard College

New York, NY · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $57,298/yr (56% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 2.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #55 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$792K	$757K	$662K
Earnings Multiple	3.0x	2.9x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$264,984

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$157,012

41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,250

3.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$95,608

67% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Barnard College's Political Science and Government program earn $57,298/yr in their first year — 56% above the $36,684 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $18,250 in median debt against $57,298 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #55 out of 521 programs, Barnard College's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $57,298 to $95,608 over five years (67% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Barnard College

Barnard College admits 8% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, a compact campus enrolling 3,219 students in New York, NY. After financial aid, the average student pays $157,012 over four years — 41% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Barnard 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Barnard College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Barnard College'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.

Why does Barnard College rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #55 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →