Home › Mount Holyoke College › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at Mount Holyoke College

South Hadley, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,690/yr (33% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.3x earnings multiple

Ranked #314 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	$601K	$588K	$535K
Earnings Multiple	2.3x	2.3x	2.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	45	44	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$256,568

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$118,248

54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,000

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,447

36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $48,690 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Mount Holyoke College significantly outpace the $36,684 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The financial case is thin at 2.3x — 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.

The median debt load of $21,000 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #314 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Mount Holyoke College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $48,690 to $66,447 over five years — a 36% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Mount Holyoke College

A 38% acceptance rate puts Mount Holyoke College in competitive admissions territory, with a smaller student body of 2,198 in South Hadley, MA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $118,248 — 54% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount Holyoke 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 Mount Holyoke 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 Mount Holyoke College?

A score of 44/100 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 $534,561 in decade earnings vs $600,717 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Mount Holyoke College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?

After financial aid, the average student pays $118,248 over four years — 54% below the $256,568 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 →