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Political Science and Government at Indiana State University

Terre Haute, IN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,352/yr (-9% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (5.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #350 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	$490K	$490K	$461K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.3x	12.3x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.6x	5.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	42	42	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,968

Out-of-state: $86,936 (5.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$48,752

-22% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,591

9.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$45,625

37% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $33,352/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 12.3x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,591 debt-to-$33,352 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #350 out of 521 programs, Indiana State University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,352 to $45,625 shows 37% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Indiana State University

Indiana State University accepts 92% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 6,620 in Terre Haute, IN.

See all programs and financial aid at Indiana State 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 Indiana State University

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 Indiana State University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 42/100 — 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.

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