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Political Science and Government at University of North Carolina Asheville

Asheville, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
41
Optimistic
40
Base Case
39
Pessimistic
Earnings $23,964/yr (-35% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 18.0x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #394 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 $543K $537K $496K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.2x 18.0x 16.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.5x 5.4x 5.0x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 41 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)
$29,844
Out-of-state: $99,236 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,460
-72% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,718
10.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,101
101% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $23,964/yr fall 35% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

The 18.0x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $21,718 debt-to-$23,964 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #394 out of 521 programs, University of North Carolina Asheville's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $23,964 to $48,101 over five years (101% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Carolina Asheville

University of North Carolina Asheville has a 94% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 2,790 in Asheville, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Carolina Asheville →

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

Compare this program → View all 521 schools offering Political Science and Government →

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Dartmouth College ($72,618) Tufts University ($67,713) University of Pennsylvania ($65,473) Princeton University ($63,317) University of Maryland Global Campus ($62,476) Harvard University ($61,543) Amherst College ($61,125) Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,077)

Other Majors at University of North Carolina Asheville

Engineering, General ($73,410) Accounting and Related Services ($53,705) Computer Science ($48,076) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($44,945) Chemistry ($36,891) Mathematics ($33,651) Economics ($28,301) History ($28,205)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of North Carolina Asheville's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 40/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Political Science and Government earnings lower at University of North Carolina Asheville?
Lower starting pay at University of North Carolina Asheville may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →