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Political Science and Government at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Chattanooga, TN · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $39,490/yr (8% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.1x earnings multiple (6.7x out-of-state)

Ranked #239 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	$489K	$489K	$460K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.0x	12.1x	11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.7x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	48	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,576

Out-of-state: $72,832 (6.7x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,268

-26% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,250

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$47,072

19% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $39,490/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 12.1x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,250 debt-to-$39,490 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #239 out of 521 programs, The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth is modest: $39,490 to $47,072 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.

About The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga has a 77% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, enrolling 9,878 students in Chattanooga, TN.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga →

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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

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 The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 48/100 — 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 →