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Political Science and Government at Mount St. Mary's University

Emmitsburg, MD · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
30 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
30
Optimistic
30
Base Case
29
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,800/yr (-19% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #496 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 $417K $426K $412K
Earnings Multiple 2.2x 2.3x 2.2x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 30 29

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$188,960
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$99,948
47% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
10.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (4 Year)
$39,241
32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $29,800 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Mount St. Mary's University earn below the $36,684 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

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 1% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 11 months of the $29,800 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #496 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Mount St. Mary's University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Mount St. Mary's University

With 72% of applicants admitted, Mount St. Mary's University prioritizes broad access, a compact campus enrolling 1,806 students in Emmitsburg, MD. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $99,948 — 47% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount St. Mary's 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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at Mount St. Mary's University

Accounting and Related Services ($64,849) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($57,612) Business/Commerce, General ($46,859) Criminology ($43,230) Sociology ($40,196) Communication and Media Studies ($39,055) Research and Experimental Psychology ($34,454)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 Mount St. Mary's University?
A score of 30/100 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 $412,358 in decade earnings vs $416,990 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Mount St. Mary's University?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →