Political Science and Government at Binghamton University

Vestal, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
56
Pessimistic
Earnings $37,194/yr (1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 15.7x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #41 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 $674K $653K $583K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 16.3x 15.7x 14.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.7x 5.5x 4.9x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$41,452
Out-of-state: $117,812 (5.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,456
-106% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,902
91% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,194/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 15.7x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,500 debt-to-$37,194 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

A #41 ranking out of 521 Political Science and Government programs nationally puts Binghamton University in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $37,194 to $70,902 over five years (91% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Binghamton University

Binghamton University accepts 38% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, serving 14,401 students in Vestal, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at Binghamton 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Binghamton University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 59/100, 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 →