Political Science and Government at Davidson College

Davidson, NC · Private nonprofit · Certificate

With just 14% of applicants admitted, Davidson College ranks among the nation's most selective schools, a compact campus enrolling 1,901 students in Davidson, NC.

Program Analysis

Davidson College's Political Science and Government program produces graduates earning $46,232/yr — within striking distance of the $47,853 national average for this trade.

With a 12.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Political Science and Government carry above-average AI exposure (50% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears fast against $46,232 in annual earnings.

Political Science and Government is offered at just 4 schools in our analysis. Davidson College's #4 ranking should be read in that context.

The $46,232-to-$78,431 earnings arc over five years reflects a 70% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

Political Science and Government has a registered apprenticeship option through Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer with a median wage of $136,550/yr — worth exploring for students who prefer structured on-the-job training.

54 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
48
Low End
54
Score
57
High End
Earnings $46,232/yr (-3% vs median)
AI-Proof Exposed (50% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (182,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$811K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
13.5x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
7 of 7
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition
$60,300
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$78,431
70% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Political Science and Government graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Political scientists $139,380 -3.1% 52%
Managers, all other $136,550 +4.5% 53%
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980 +2.1% 52%
Political scientists
$139,380
-3.1% growth 52% AI-proof
Managers, all other
$136,550
+4.5% growth 53% AI-proof
Economics teachers, postsecondary
$119,980
+2.1% growth 52% AI-proof

View all 7 career paths with full salary data →

Political Science and Government Career Guide

From day-one roles to senior positions, Political Science and Government careers span a range of specializations. Read the complete outlook for graduates entering other programs.

Read the full Political Science and Government career guide →

Compare & Explore

Political Science and Government Overview

Political Science and Government at Other Schools

Other Majors at Davidson College

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Political Science and Government at Davidson College?
A score of 54/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Davidson College trails the majority of Political Science and Government programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
What's the AI risk for Political Science and Government graduates from Davidson College?
With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $483,688 in decade earnings vs $811,314 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
How many job openings are there for Political Science and Government graduates?
The career paths mapped to Political Science and Government have roughly 182,300 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →