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Political Science and Government at Hampden-Sydney College

Hampden-Sydney, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,123/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #440 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	$459K	$463K	$440K
Earnings Multiple	2.2x	2.2x	2.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	38	37	34

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$209,552

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,672

53% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,000

8.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $37,123/yr, roughly in line with the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The financial case is thin at 2.2x — 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 4% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 9 months of the $37,123 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #440 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Hampden-Sydney College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Hampden-Sydney College

A 50% admission rate makes Hampden-Sydney College accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 876 students in Hampden-Sydney, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $98,672 — 53% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Hampden-Sydney 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 Hampden-Sydney College

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Hampden-Sydney College?

A score of 37/100 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 $440,347 in decade earnings vs $459,070 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Hampden-Sydney College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?

After financial aid, the average student pays $98,672 over four years — 53% below the $209,552 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 →