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Political Science and Government at The University of Montana

Missoula, MT · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $38,094/yr (4% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 17.0x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #80 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$562K	$554K	$509K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	17.2x	17.0x	15.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.4x	4.4x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,608

Out-of-state: $126,488 (4.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,472

-110% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,495

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$57,400

51% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $38,094/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from The University of Montana land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 17.0x 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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $19,495 represents roughly 6 months of the $38,094 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #80 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $57,400 show a 51% jump from the $38,094 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About The University of Montana

With 96% of applicants admitted, The University of Montana prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 7,079 in Missoula, MT.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Montana →

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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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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at The University of Montana?

A score of 56/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

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 $508,740 in decade earnings vs $561,895 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes The University of Montana's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #80 of 521 programs nationally, The University of Montana lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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