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Political Science and Government at The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $31,550/yr (-14% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.6x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #274 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	$607K	$593K	$538K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.9x	12.6x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	48	47	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$46,912

Out-of-state: $118,640 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$60,940

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,216

7.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,898

90% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $31,550 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.

The 12.6x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $19,216 debt-to-$31,550 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #274 out of 521 programs, The University of Texas at Arlington's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $31,550 to $59,898 over five years (90% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About The University of Texas at Arlington

The University of Texas at Arlington has a 81% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, one of the larger campuses at 30,834 students in Arlington, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Texas at Arlington →

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 Texas at Arlington

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

How does The University of Texas at Arlington's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 47/100 — 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 →