Home › University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,272/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (5.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #50 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 10%

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	$595K	$583K	$531K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.9x	14.6x	13.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.3x	5.2x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,068

Out-of-state: $112,836 (5.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$76,532

-91% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$17,500

5.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,707

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,272 at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus come in 10% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.6x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $40,272 far exceeding the $17,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #50 of 521 programs, University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus's Political Science and Government program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Five-year earnings of $62,707 show a 56% jump from the $40,272 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus accepts 78% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 10,686 students in Denver, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus →

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 Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

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 University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus?

A score of 58/100 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 $530,766 in decade earnings vs $595,013 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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