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Political Science and Government at Troy University

Troy, AL · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,279/yr (26% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #18 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 5%

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)	14.3x	14.1x	13.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.2x	7.1x	6.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	62	61	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$39,168

Out-of-state: $78,336 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,476

-42% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,125

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,990

30% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,279 put Troy University's Political Science and Government program 26% above the national median of $36,684 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.1x 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 $25,125 represents roughly 7 months of the $46,279 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #18 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $46,279 to $59,990 over five years — a 30% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Troy University

Troy University accepts 93% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 10,089 students in Troy, AL. Pell Grant recipients make up 42% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Troy 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

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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 Troy University?

A score of 61/100 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 $508,670 in decade earnings vs $561,789 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Troy University's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #18 of 521 programs nationally, Troy University lands in the top 5%. 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 →