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Political Science and Government at University of South Carolina-Upstate

Spartanburg, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
51 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
52
Optimistic
51
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $35,798/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (6.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #182 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 $582K $572K $522K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.3x 11.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.5x 6.3x 5.8x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 52 51 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)
$46,332
Out-of-state: $90,180 (6.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$54,900
-18% less than sticker · See by income
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,145
65% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of South Carolina-Upstate's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $35,798/yr — within striking distance of the $36,684 national average for this field.

The 12.3x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Ranked #182 out of 521 programs, University of South Carolina-Upstate's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $35,798 to $59,145 over five years (65% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of South Carolina-Upstate

University of South Carolina-Upstate's 70% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 4,008 in Spartanburg, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 45% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Upstate →

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 South Carolina-Upstate

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($75,849) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($49,999) Information Science/Studies ($48,664) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($40,775) Special Education and Teaching ($40,322) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($40,081) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($39,511) Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities ($36,241)

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 South Carolina-Upstate's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 51/100, 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →