Political Science and Government at Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
45 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
46
Optimistic
45
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,050/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 4.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #299 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 $582K $572K $522K
Earnings Multiple 4.8x 4.8x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 46 45 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$120,232
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$147,312
-23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,250
8.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,508
55% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $39,050 at Spelman College come in 6% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

An earnings multiple of 4.8x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,250 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,050 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #299 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Spelman College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $60,508 show a 55% jump from the $39,050 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Spelman College

Spelman College accepts 34% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, a compact campus enrolling 3,633 students in Atlanta, GA.

See all programs and financial aid at Spelman 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Spelman College

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 Spelman College?
A score of 45/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $522,240 in decade earnings vs $582,193 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →