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Political Science and Government at University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Lincoln, NE · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $36,364/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.9x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #93 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	$617K	$602K	$545K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.3x	14.9x	13.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.6x	5.4x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	55	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,432

Out-of-state: $110,992 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$69,696

-72% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

7.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$63,703

75% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $36,364/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Nebraska-Lincoln land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 14.9x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,500 debt-to-$36,364 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #93 out of 521 programs, University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $36,364 to $63,703 over five years (75% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Nebraska-Lincoln

With 77% of applicants admitted, University of Nebraska-Lincoln prioritizes broad access, with a mid-sized student body of 18,887 in Lincoln, NE.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Nebraska-Lincoln →

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 Nebraska-Lincoln

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 Nebraska-Lincoln's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 55/100, 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 Nebraska-Lincoln rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #93 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 →