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Political Science and Government at Saint Mary's College of California

Moraga, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $45,296/yr (23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #298 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	$618K	$604K	$546K
Earnings Multiple	2.8x	2.7x	2.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$224,536

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$124,792

44% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,000

6.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$67,807

50% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,296/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$45,296 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #298 out of 521 programs, Saint Mary's College of California's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $45,296 to $67,807 shows 50% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Saint Mary's College of California

Saint Mary's College of California has a 89% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 2,024 students in Moraga, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $124,792 over four years — 44% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Mary's College of California →

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 Saint Mary's College of California

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 Saint Mary's College of California's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 45/100 — 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 →