Political Science and Government at Wabash College

Crawfordsville, IN · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
40 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
40
Optimistic
40
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $32,834/yr (-10% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #386 of 521 Political Science and Government programs

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 $715K $689K $611K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.5x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 40 40 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$196,500
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,624
55% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
9.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$72,527
121% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $32,834/yr, Political Science and Government graduates from Wabash College land near the $36,684 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

An earnings multiple of 3.5x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 15% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 10 months of the $32,834 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #386 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Wabash College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $72,527 show a 121% jump from the $32,834 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Wabash College

Wabash College accepts 63% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, a smaller institution with 845 students in Crawfordsville, IN. The average net cost of $87,624 over four years represents a 55% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wabash College →

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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Explore the Trade Alternative

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

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Wabash College?
A score of 40/100 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 $610,800 in decade earnings vs $715,339 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Wabash College a hidden gem for Political Science and Government?
After financial aid, the average student pays $87,624 over four years — 55% below the $196,500 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →