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Political Science and Government at Youngstown State University

Youngstown, OH · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,148/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk Very High (50% exposed)

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

ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (12.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #409 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	$541K	$535K	$495K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.4x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	12.1x	12.0x	11.1x
Probability of Field Employment	50%	44%	33%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,164

Out-of-state: $44,604 (12.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$47,508

-10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,798

9.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,258

79% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $28,148 place Youngstown State University below the $36,684 national median for Political Science and Government — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

The 12.4x 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 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $22,798 debt-to-$28,148 income ratio translates to about 10 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #409 out of 521 programs, Youngstown State University's financial outcomes for Political Science and Government trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

Earnings growth from $28,148 to $50,258 over five years (79% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Youngstown State University

Youngstown State University accepts 80% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 7,340 students in Youngstown, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Youngstown 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

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Youngstown State University

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Youngstown State University's Political Science and Government program score?

This program scores 39/100 — 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 Youngstown State University?

Lower starting pay at Youngstown 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 →