Home › University of the District of Columbia › Political Science and Government

Political Science and Government at University of the District of Columbia

Washington, DC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,935/yr (36% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 21.5x earnings multiple (10.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #27 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	$533K	$528K	$489K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	21.6x	21.5x	19.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	10.2x	10.2x	9.4x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	61	60	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$24,608

Out-of-state: $52,016 (10.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,772

-139% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$25,637

6.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Program Analysis

At $49,935 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from University of the District of Columbia significantly outpace the $36,684 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 21.5x 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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,637 represents roughly 6 months of the $49,935 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #27 of 521 nationally, this is a top-5% Political Science and Government program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

About University of the District of Columbia

a compact campus enrolling 3,080 students in Washington, DC. Pell Grant recipients make up 43% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of the District of Columbia →

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 the District of Columbia

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 the District of Columbia?

A score of 60/100 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 $489,319 in decade earnings vs $532,695 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes University of the District of Columbia's Political Science and Government program stand out?

Ranked #27 of 521 programs nationally, University of the District of Columbia lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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