Political Science and Government at California State University-East Bay

Hayward, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,460/yr (10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 24.3x earnings multiple (9.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #4 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 1%

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 $711K $686K $608K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 25.2x 24.3x 21.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.4x 9.1x 8.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$28,220
Out-of-state: $75,740 (9.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,104
-60% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,322
5.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$77,086
91% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,460 at California State University-East Bay come in 10% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 24.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $40,460 far exceeding the $18,322 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #4 of 521 Political Science and Government programs nationally, California State University-East Bay sits in the top 1% — one of the strongest programs in the country by financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $77,086 show a 91% jump from the $40,460 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About California State University-East Bay

California State University-East Bay accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 10,422 in Hayward, CA. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State University-East Bay →

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

Compare Political Science and Government

Other Majors at California State University-East Bay

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 California State University-East Bay?
A score of 65/100 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 $607,840 in decade earnings vs $710,886 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes California State University-East Bay's Political Science and Government program stand out?
Ranked #4 of 521 programs nationally, California State University-East Bay lands in the top 1%. 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 →