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Political Science and Government at Saint Michael's College

Colchester, VT · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
38 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
38
Optimistic
38
Base Case
35
Pessimistic
Earnings $34,307/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #422 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 $649K $631K $567K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.2x 2.8x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 38 38 35

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$200,160
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$120,132
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,434
9.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$66,395
94% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $34,307/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from Saint Michael's College land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 3.2x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,434 debt-to-$34,307 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #422 out of 521 programs, Saint Michael's College's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $34,307 to $66,395 over five years (94% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Saint Michael's College

With 92% of applicants admitted, Saint Michael's College prioritizes broad access, a smaller institution with 1,157 students in Colchester, VT. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $120,132 — 40% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Saint Michael's College →

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 Saint Michael's College

Accounting and Related Services ($56,723) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($51,126) Economics ($47,211) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($45,489) Psychology, General ($36,902) Sociology ($36,605) Biology, General ($36,327) English Language and Literature, General ($34,348)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Saint Michael's College's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 38/100 — 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 →