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Political Science and Government at University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,589/yr (-22% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 14.4x earnings multiple (5.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #258 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	$645K	$627K	$564K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.8x	14.4x	12.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.9x	5.8x	5.2x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	47	47	45

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,680

Out-of-state: $108,416 (5.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,916

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$15,594

6.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,143

117% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $28,589/yr fall 22% below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.4x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $15,594 represents roughly 7 months of the $28,589 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #258 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, University of Southern Maine scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $62,143 show a 117% jump from the $28,589 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of Southern Maine

University of Southern Maine has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 4,245 students in Portland, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →

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

Other Majors at University of Southern Maine

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

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 Southern Maine?

A score of 47/100 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 $563,914 in decade earnings vs $644,848 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from University of Southern Maine?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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