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Political Science and Government at Radford University

Radford, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,136/yr (-26% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 16.5x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #194 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	$855K	$813K	$703K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.4x	16.5x	14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.5x	8.1x	7.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	51	50	49

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$49,144

Out-of-state: $100,740 (8.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$66,560

-35% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,375

9.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,892

194% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $27,136 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Radford University earn below the $36,684 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 16.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Political Science and Government programs nationally.

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 18% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,375 represents roughly 10 months of the $27,136 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #194 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Radford University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $79,892 show a 194% jump from the $27,136 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Radford University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Radford University prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 5,609 in Radford, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Radford 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 Radford 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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Radford University?

A score of 50/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

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 $703,464 in decade earnings vs $854,655 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Radford 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 →