Home › University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,200/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.7x earnings multiple (4.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #10 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 5%

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 $657K $638K $572K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.3x 17.7x 15.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.2x 4.1x 3.6x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$35,956
Out-of-state: $157,320 (4.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$51,932
-44% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$14,569
4.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,082
73% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,200/yr, edging above the $36,684 national average for Political Science and Government — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 17.7x 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 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $14,569 in median debt against $41,200 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #10 out of 521 programs, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $41,200 to $71,082 over five years (73% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill admits 19% of applicants, placing it among selective institutions, serving a student body of 20,556 in Chapel Hill, NC.

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

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)

Compare Political Science and Government

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs Dartmouth College → University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs University of Pennsylvania → University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs University of Maryland Global Campus → University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill vs Harvard University →

Other Majors at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Computer Science ($90,293) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($85,618) Information Science/Studies ($75,834) Applied Mathematics ($75,105) Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,594) Biomedical/Medical Engineering ($70,561) Economics ($65,344) Physics ($62,647)

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 at Chapel Hill's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 63/100, 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 North Carolina at Chapel Hill rank so high for Political Science and Government?
The #10 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 →