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Political Science and Government at Gustavus Adolphus College

Saint Peter, MN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,463/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #420 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	$593K	$581K	$529K
Earnings Multiple	2.7x	2.7x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	38	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$217,240

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$107,580

50% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,638

60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $38,463/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $38,463 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #420 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Gustavus Adolphus College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $61,638 show a 60% jump from the $38,463 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Gustavus Adolphus College

Gustavus Adolphus College accepts 62% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,930 students in Saint Peter, MN. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $107,580 — 50% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Gustavus Adolphus 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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A score of 38/100 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 $529,155 in decade earnings vs $592,588 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Gustavus Adolphus College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?

After financial aid, the average student pays $107,580 over four years — 50% below the $217,240 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 →