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Political Science and Government at Dartmouth College

Hanover, NH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $72,618/yr (98% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.9x earnings multiple

Ranked #15 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 5%

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	$789K	$755K	$660K
Earnings Multiple	3.0x	2.9x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	63	62	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$262,956

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$114,476

56% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,500

2.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$101,103

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Dartmouth College's Political Science and Government program earn $72,618/yr in their first year — 98% above the $36,684 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The financial case is thin at 2.9x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 16% gap from the optimistic case.

At $17,500 in median debt against $72,618 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #15 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $72,618 to $101,103 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Dartmouth College

Dartmouth College admits 6% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, a compact campus enrolling 4,367 students in Hanover, NH. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $114,476 — 56% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Dartmouth 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

Compare Political Science and Government

Other Majors at Dartmouth 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Dartmouth College?

A score of 62/100 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 $659,785 in decade earnings vs $788,984 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Dartmouth College's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #15 of 521 programs nationally, Dartmouth College lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

Is Dartmouth College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?

After financial aid, the average student pays $114,476 over four years — 56% below the $262,956 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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