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Political Science and Government at University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Amherst, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $43,545/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 8.8x earnings multiple (3.9x out-of-state)

Ranked #78 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	$625K	$610K	$551K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.0x	8.8x	7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.0x	3.9x	3.5x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	57	56	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)

$69,428

Out-of-state: $157,172 (3.9x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$94,764

-36% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,369

5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,047

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,545/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

At 8.8x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,369 in median debt against $43,545 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #78 out of 521 programs, University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $43,545 to $68,047 over five years (56% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Massachusetts-Amherst

With a 58% acceptance rate, University of Massachusetts-Amherst is moderately selective, with 23,694 students enrolled in Amherst, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Massachusetts-Amherst →

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

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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

How does University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 56/100, 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 Massachusetts-Amherst rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #78 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 →