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Political Science and Government at Winthrop University

Rock Hill, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree
29 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
30
Optimistic
29
Base Case
28
Pessimistic
Earnings $21,165/yr (-42% vs median)
AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)
ROI 8.4x earnings multiple (4.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #508 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 $540K $534K $494K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 8.5x 8.4x 7.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.5x 4.4x 4.1x
Probability of Field Employment 50% 44% 33%
DegreeOutlook Score 30 29 28

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$63,824
Out-of-state: $121,144 (4.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$65,412
-2% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
15.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,845
117% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $21,165 place Winthrop University below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

At 8.4x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 50% task exposure — and the 8% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt load exceeds a year of the $21,165 starting salary, suggesting a multi-year repayment window before graduates break even financially.

At #508 out of 521 programs, Winthrop University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $21,165 to $45,845 over five years (117% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Winthrop University

Winthrop University accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,424 students in Rock Hill, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at Winthrop 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 Winthrop University

Computer and Information Sciences, General ($64,302) Business Administration, Management and Operations ($44,568) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($41,708) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($40,487) Special Education and Teaching ($40,435) Design and Applied Arts ($40,119) Communication and Media Studies ($35,198) Social Work ($35,070)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Political Science and Government trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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

How does Winthrop University's Political Science and Government program score?
This program scores 29/100 — on the lower end for Political Science and Government. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
Do Winthrop University Political Science and Government graduates earn enough to justify the loans?
The debt-to-income ratio of 1.3x suggests an extended repayment window. Whether it's 'worth it' depends on career trajectory, not just first-year pay.
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 Winthrop University?
Lower starting pay at Winthrop 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 →