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Political Science and Government at State University of New York at Cortland

Cortland, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
53 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
54
Optimistic
53
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,143/yr (-21% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 20.8x earnings multiple (9.8x out-of-state)
Ranked #135 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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 $764K $733K $643K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 21.7x 20.8x 18.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 10.2x 9.8x 8.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 54 53 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,260
Out-of-state: $74,900 (9.8x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$79,804
-126% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,000
9.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,191
155% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $29,143/yr fall 21% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 20.8x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,000 debt-to-$29,143 income ratio translates to about 9 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #135 out of 521 programs, State University of New York at Cortland's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,143 to $74,191 over five years (155% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About State University of New York at Cortland

With a 51% acceptance rate, State University of New York at Cortland is moderately selective, enrolling 5,896 students in Cortland, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at State University of New York at Cortland →

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 State University of New York at Cortland

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($42,132) Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions ($40,853) Business/Managerial Economics ($40,517) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($37,979) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($37,940) Criminology ($34,768) Communication and Media Studies ($34,683) Sociology ($33,837)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does State University of New York at Cortland's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 53/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.
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.
Why are Political Science and Government earnings lower at State University of New York at Cortland?
Lower starting pay at State University of New York at Cortland may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →