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Political Science and Government at Valdosta State University

Valdosta, GA · Public · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
48
Optimistic
47
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $26,576/yr (-28% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 24.2x earnings multiple (8.5x out-of-state)
Ranked #254 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 $592K $581K $529K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 24.6x 24.2x 22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.7x 8.5x 7.7x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 47 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$24,028
Out-of-state: $68,248 (8.5x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$45,192
-88% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,000
11.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,175
108% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Valdosta State University's Political Science and Government graduates start at $26,576/yr, trailing the $36,684 national average by 28%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The 24.2x 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 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,000 debt-to-$26,576 income ratio translates to about 11 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #254 out of 521 programs, Valdosta State University's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $26,576 to $55,175 over five years (108% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Valdosta State University

A 83% acceptance rate means Valdosta State University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 6,858 students in Valdosta, GA. 51% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Valdosta State University →

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 Valdosta State University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($71,395) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($62,074) Information Science/Studies ($51,888) Finance and Financial Management Services ($43,532) Business Operations Support and Assistant Services ($42,088) Accounting and Related Services ($41,974) Marketing ($41,483) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($41,377)

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 Valdosta State University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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 are Political Science and Government earnings lower at Valdosta State University?
Lower starting pay at Valdosta State University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →