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Political Science and Government at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $40,487/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 13.5x earnings multiple (6.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #103 of 521 Political Science and Government programs Top 25%

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	$549K	$542K	$500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.7x	13.5x	12.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.2x	6.2x	5.7x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	55	51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$40,080

Out-of-state: $88,080 (6.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$64,708

-61% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

6.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$56,389

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $40,487 at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee come in 10% above the national median of $36,684 for Political Science and Government programs.

The 13.5x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $20,500 debt-to-$40,487 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #103 out of 521 programs, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Political Science and Government program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,487 to $56,389 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee accepts 88% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a mid-sized student body of 16,762 in Milwaukee, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee →

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 Wisconsin-Milwaukee

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

How does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 55/100, 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.

Why does University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee rank so high for Political Science and Government?

The #103 ranking out of 521 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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