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Political Science and Government at SUNY Old Westbury

Old Westbury, NY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,666/yr (-6% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #332 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	$445K	$451K	$431K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.3x	13.4x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.1x	6.2x	5.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	44	43	41

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$33,516

Out-of-state: $73,156 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$39,600

-18% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$14,333

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,666 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.4x 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 3% gap from the optimistic case.

At $14,333 in median debt against $34,666 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #332 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, SUNY Old Westbury falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About SUNY Old Westbury

SUNY Old Westbury has a 85% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 3,945 in Old Westbury, NY. Pell Grant recipients make up 47% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at SUNY Old Westbury →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at SUNY Old Westbury?

A score of 43/100 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 $430,955 in decade earnings vs $444,950 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →