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Political Science and Government at Swarthmore College

Swarthmore, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,449/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.8x earnings multiple

Ranked #294 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	$721K	$694K	$614K
Earnings Multiple	2.9x	2.8x	2.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	46	42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$249,648

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$74,744

70% less than sticker · See by income

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$78,204

93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Swarthmore College's Political Science and Government graduates start at $40,449/yr — above the $36,684 national average, though not by a wide margin.

The financial case is thin at 2.8x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Ranked #294 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Swarthmore College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $78,204 show a 93% jump from the $40,449 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Swarthmore College

Only 7% of applicants gain admission to Swarthmore College, reflecting elite selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,627 students in Swarthmore, PA. The average net cost of $74,744 over four years represents a 70% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Swarthmore 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

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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 Swarthmore College?

A score of 46/100 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 $614,392 in decade earnings vs $720,738 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Swarthmore College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?

After financial aid, the average student pays $74,744 over four years — 70% below the $249,648 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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