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Political Science and Government at San Francisco State University

San Francisco, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
61 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
61
Optimistic
61
Base Case
58
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,502/yr (-0% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 22.5x earnings multiple (8.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #20 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 5%

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 $692K $669K $595K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 23.3x 22.5x 20.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 9.0x 8.7x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 61 58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$29,696
Out-of-state: $77,216 (8.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,528
-74% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,200
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,521
99% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

San Francisco State University's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $36,502/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 22.5x 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 14% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $16,200 in median debt clears quickly against $36,502 in annual earnings.

At #20 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 $72,521 show a 99% jump from the $36,502 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About San Francisco State University

A 96% acceptance rate means San Francisco State University is accessible to most applicants, one of the larger campuses at 20,033 students in San Francisco, CA. 41% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at San Francisco State 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

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)

Compare Political Science and Government

San Francisco State University vs Dartmouth College → San Francisco State University vs University of Pennsylvania → San Francisco State University vs University of Maryland Global Campus → San Francisco State University vs Harvard University →

Other Majors at San Francisco State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($117,532) Mechanical Engineering ($72,647) Civil Engineering ($68,256) Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($67,345) Finance and Financial Management Services ($62,778) Accounting and Related Services ($60,607) International Business ($58,560) Microbiological Sciences and Immunology ($56,071)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 San Francisco State University?
A score of 61/100 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 $595,097 in decade earnings vs $691,729 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What makes San Francisco State University's Political Science and Government program stand out?
Ranked #20 of 521 programs nationally, San Francisco State University lands in the top 5%. 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 →