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Political Science and Government at University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $34,195/yr (-7% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (6.6x out-of-state)

Ranked #218 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 50%

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	$569K	$560K	$514K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.7x	12.5x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.7x	6.6x	6.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	49	49	46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,656

Out-of-state: $84,976 (6.6x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$57,408

-29% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,069

5.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,747

66% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $34,195 track close to the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

At $16,069 in median debt against $34,195 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #218 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of North Texas scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $56,747 show a 66% jump from the $34,195 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of North Texas

University of North Texas has a 72% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 33,680 in Denton, TX.

See all programs and financial aid at University of North Texas →

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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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 North Texas?

A score of 49/100 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 $513,620 in decade earnings vs $569,233 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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