Political Science and Government at Rutgers University-New Brunswick

New Brunswick, NJ · Public · Bachelor's Degree
55 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
56
Optimistic
55
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,723/yr (8% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #95 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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 $667K $647K $579K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 9.7x 9.4x 8.4x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.6x 4.5x 4.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 55 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$68,956
Out-of-state: $144,004 (4.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,076
-36% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,531
80% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Political Science and Government graduates start at $39,723/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.4x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 6 months of the $39,723 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #95 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $71,531 show a 80% jump from the $39,723 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Rutgers University-New Brunswick

Rutgers University-New Brunswick's 65% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, serving a student body of 36,357 in New Brunswick, NJ.

See all programs and financial aid at Rutgers University-New Brunswick →

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick

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 Rutgers University-New Brunswick?
A score of 55/100 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 $578,653 in decade earnings vs $667,007 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes Rutgers University-New Brunswick's Political Science and Government program stand out?
Ranked #95 of 521 programs nationally, Rutgers University-New Brunswick lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →