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Political Science and Government at University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $33,745/yr (-8% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 16.2x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #105 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	$650K	$632K	$567K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.7x	16.2x	14.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	55	54	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$38,992

Out-of-state: $115,088 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$70,100

-80% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$23,574

8.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,167

96% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,745 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 16.2x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,574 debt-to-$33,745 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #105 out of 521 programs, University of Arkansas's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $33,745 to $66,167 over five years (96% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 27,312 in Fayetteville, AR.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Arkansas →

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 University of Arkansas

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 University of Arkansas's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 54/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Political Science and Government graduates.

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.

Why does University of Arkansas rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #105 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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