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Political Science and Government at Whitman College

Walla Walla, WA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $27,689/yr (-25% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 2.2x earnings multiple

Ranked #520 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	$542K	$536K	$495K
Earnings Multiple	2.2x	2.2x	2.0x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	24	24	23

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$245,968

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$142,024

42% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,750

7.3 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,141

81% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Whitman College's Political Science and Government graduates start at $27,689/yr, trailing the $36,684 national average by 25%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

The financial case is thin at 2.2x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $16,750 represents roughly 7 months of the $27,689 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #520 of 521 Political Science and Government programs, Whitman College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $50,141 show a 81% jump from the $27,689 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About Whitman College

Whitman College's 50% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, a smaller institution with 1,523 students in Walla Walla, WA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $142,024 — 42% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Whitman 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Whitman College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Whitman College?

A score of 24/100 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 $495,328 in decade earnings vs $541,730 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Political Science and Government from Whitman College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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