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Political Science and Government at Temple University

Philadelphia, PA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,011/yr (-2% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 6.6x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #307 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	$599K	$587K	$533K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	6.8x	6.6x	6.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	3.9x	3.6x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	46	45	43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$88,328

Out-of-state: $149,848 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$116,876

-32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,881

8.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,331

70% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,011 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.

At 6.6x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,881 debt-to-$36,011 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #307 out of 521 programs, Temple University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $36,011 to $61,331 over five years (70% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Temple University

Temple University has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with 21,249 students enrolled in Philadelphia, PA.

See all programs and financial aid at Temple 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Temple University

Consider the Trade Route?

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 Temple University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 45/100 — 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 →