Home › Pepperdine University › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $42,306/yr (15% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #249 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$739K	$711K	$627K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.7x	2.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$266,968

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$181,636

32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,625

6.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$81,421

92% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Pepperdine University's Political Science and Government graduates start at $42,306/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,625 debt-to-$42,306 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #249 out of 521 programs, Pepperdine University's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $42,306 to $81,421 over five years (92% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Pepperdine University

Pepperdine University's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a compact campus enrolling 3,629 students in Malibu, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $181,636 over four years — 32% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine 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 Pepperdine University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 →