Political Science and Government at Capital University

Columbus, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
36
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,807/yr (9% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #395 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 $551K $544K $502K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 40 36

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$167,152
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,340
44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,218
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$56,524
42% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,807/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

An earnings multiple of 3.3x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,218 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,807 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #395 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Capital University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $39,807 to $56,524 over five years — a 42% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Capital University

Capital University has a 73% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,709 students in Columbus, OH. After financial aid, the average student pays $94,340 over four years — 44% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Capital 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Capital University

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Capital University?
A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $501,658 in decade earnings vs $551,246 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →