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Political Science and Government at University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,458/yr (2% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 11.7x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #145 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	$571K	$562K	$515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.9x	11.7x	10.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.4x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	52	52	48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$48,040

Out-of-state: $104,816 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$73,828

-54% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,000

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$58,329

56% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $37,458/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from University of Northern Colorado land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 11.7x 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.

Median debt of $20,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $37,458 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #145 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Northern Colorado scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $58,329 show a 56% jump from the $37,458 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Northern Colorado

With 86% of applicants admitted, University of Northern Colorado prioritizes broad access, enrolling 5,693 students in Greeley, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Northern Colorado →

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 Northern Colorado?

A score of 52/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Political Science and Government field.

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 $514,554 in decade earnings vs $570,634 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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