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Political Science and Government at St. Mary's University

San Antonio, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
39 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
39
Base Case
37
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,392/yr (-1% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.9x earnings multiple
Ranked #412 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 $569K $561K $514K
Earnings Multiple 3.9x 3.9x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 39 37

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$144,968
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,408
41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,250
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,741
59% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

St. Mary's University's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $36,392/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

The 3.9x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,250 debt-to-$36,392 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #412 out of 521 programs, St. Mary's University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $36,392 to $57,741 over five years (59% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About St. Mary's University

A 89% acceptance rate means St. Mary's University is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 1,911 students in San Antonio, TX. 42% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity. The average net cost of $85,408 over four years represents a 41% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at St. Mary's 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)

Other Majors at St. Mary's University

Finance and Financial Management Services ($48,018) Marketing ($46,438) English Language and Literature, General ($39,752) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($39,105) Criminology ($33,978) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($30,237) Psychology, General ($28,175) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($27,978)

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

How does St. Mary's University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 39/100 — 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 →