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Political Science and Government at SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Plattsburgh, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree
49 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
49
Optimistic
49
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $29,164/yr (-20% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.2x earnings multiple (8.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #213 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 $628K $613K $553K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.7x 17.2x 15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.4x 8.1x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 49 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,524
Out-of-state: $75,164 (8.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$66,188
-86% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,716
9.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,800
108% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $29,164 place SUNY College at Plattsburgh below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 17.2x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,716 debt-to-$29,164 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #213 out of 521 programs, SUNY College at Plattsburgh's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $29,164 to $60,800 over five years (108% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About SUNY College at Plattsburgh

SUNY College at Plattsburgh accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,789 students in Plattsburgh, NY.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY College at Plattsburgh →

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 SUNY College at Plattsburgh

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($76,152) Accounting and Related Services ($51,243) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($50,291) Management Information Systems and Services ($50,232) Marketing ($44,607) Economics ($43,977) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($41,410) Finance and Financial Management Services ($40,414)

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 SUNY College at Plattsburgh's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 49/100 — 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.
Why are Political Science and Government earnings lower at SUNY College at Plattsburgh?
Lower starting pay at SUNY College at Plattsburgh 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 →