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Political Science and Government at California State University-Fresno

Fresno, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
42 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
43
Optimistic
42
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,674/yr (-41% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 21.0x earnings multiple (7.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #345 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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 $599K $587K $533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.5x 21.0x 19.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.9x 7.8x 7.1x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 43 42 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$27,920
Out-of-state: $75,440 (7.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$25,920
7% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,749
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,154
141% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $21,674/yr fall 41% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 21.0x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $11,749 debt-to-$21,674 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #345 out of 521 programs, California State University-Fresno's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $21,674 to $52,154 over five years (141% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About California State University-Fresno

California State University-Fresno has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 21,070 students enrolled in Fresno, CA. With 56% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

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

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 California State University-Fresno

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($96,890) Construction Engineering Technologies ($78,716) Engineering-Related Technologies ($78,518) Computer Engineering ($75,101) Civil Engineering ($71,093) Mechanical Engineering ($65,938) Plant Sciences ($60,443) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($59,672)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 California State University-Fresno's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 42/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Political Science and Government earnings lower at California State University-Fresno?
Lower starting pay at California State University-Fresno may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →