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Political Science and Government at Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $54,353/yr (48% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #77 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	$775K	$742K	$651K
Earnings Multiple	2.9x	2.8x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$266,400

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$95,756

64% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

6.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$92,125

69% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,353 put Colby College's Political Science and Government program 48% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $54,353 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #77 out of 521 programs, Colby College's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $54,353 to $92,125 over five years (69% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Colby College

Colby College's 7% admission rate places it in the top tier of selectivity nationally, with a smaller student body of 2,282 in Waterville, ME. The average net cost of $95,756 over four years represents a 64% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Colby 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 Colby College

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

How does Colby College's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 56/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.

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 does Colby College rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #77 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

How affordable is Political Science and Government at Colby College after financial aid?

Sticker price is $266,400, but the average net cost is $95,756 — a 64% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.

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