Political Science and Government at Villanova University

Villanova, PA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
52 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
53
Optimistic
52
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,549/yr (27% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.8x earnings multiple
Ranked #163 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 $758K $727K $639K
Earnings Multiple 2.9x 2.8x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 53 52 47

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$258,804
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$179,504
31% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,620
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$85,999
85% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $46,549 per year, Political Science and Government graduates from Villanova University significantly outpace the $36,684 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

An earnings multiple of 2.8x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $25,620 debt-to-$46,549 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #163 out of 521 programs, Villanova University's Political Science and Government offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $46,549 to $85,999 over five years (85% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Villanova University

A 25% acceptance rate puts Villanova University in competitive admissions territory, with a mid-sized student body of 7,005 in Villanova, PA. The average net cost of $179,504 over four years represents a 31% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Villanova 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does Villanova University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 52/100, 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 →