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Political Science and Government at University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Lafayette, LA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,518/yr (-22% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.8x earnings multiple (5.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #387 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	$537K	$532K	$492K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.9x	12.8x	11.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.5x	5.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	40	39

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$41,672

Out-of-state: $96,584 (5.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$56,472

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,063

9.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,048

75% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,518 place University of Louisiana at Lafayette below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.8x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,063 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,518 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #387 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Louisiana at Lafayette falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $50,048 show a 75% jump from the $28,518 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Louisiana at Lafayette

University of Louisiana at Lafayette accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 12,269 in Lafayette, LA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Louisiana at Lafayette →

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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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 Louisiana at Lafayette?

A score of 40/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Political Science and Government. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

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 $492,431 in decade earnings vs $537,377 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from University of Louisiana at Lafayette?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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