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Political Science and Government at Clemson University

Clemson, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,041/yr (-24% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (4.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #272 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	$784K	$750K	$656K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.6x	12.1x	10.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.0x	4.7x	4.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	47	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$62,216

Out-of-state: $157,992 (4.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$88,448

-42% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

8.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$74,888

167% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,041 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Clemson University earn below the $36,684 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The 12.1x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$28,041 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #272 out of 521 programs, Clemson University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,041 to $74,888 over five years (167% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Clemson University

A 38% acceptance rate puts Clemson University in competitive admissions territory, serving a student body of 22,778 in Clemson, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at Clemson 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 Clemson University

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

How does Clemson University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 Clemson University?

Lower starting pay at Clemson University 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 →