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Political Science and Government at Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,764/yr (27% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #130 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	$795K	$760K	$664K
Earnings Multiple	2.9x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	54	53	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$270,720

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$159,464

41% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,000

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$90,434

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Boston College Political Science and Government graduates command $46,764/yr out of the gate, well above the $36,684 national median. That 27% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

Some AI exposure exists in Political Science and Government's typical career paths, with 50% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 17% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,000 in median debt clears quickly against $46,764 in annual earnings.

At #130 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $90,434 show a 93% jump from the $46,764 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Boston College

Admission to Boston College is competitive, with 16% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 9,865 in Chestnut Hill, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $159,464 — 41% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Boston 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 Boston College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Boston College?

A score of 53/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

Will AI replace Political Science and Government careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $663,838 in decade earnings vs $795,078 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Boston College's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #130 of 521 programs nationally, Boston College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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