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Political Science and Government: American Public University System vs Harvard University

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
American Public University System
Charles Town, WV
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
20.9x
$33,600 tuition
3.8x
$236,304 tuition
$701,623 10-yr earnings · Private for-profit
$901,499 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

American Public University System Harvard University
Earnings Multiple 20.9x 3.8x
4-Year Tuition $33,600 $236,304
Year 1 Earnings $56,763 $61,543
10-Year Earnings $702K $901K
DegreeWorth Score 68/100 51/100

Both programs have very high AI automation risk (50% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Political Science and Government graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Political Science and Government graduates.

American Public University System Harvard University
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $33,600 $236,304
10-Year Projected Earnings $702K $901K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 20.9x 3.8x
5-Year Salary Growth +54% +91%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Political Science and Government (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

American Public University System Harvard University
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $729K $702K $620K $955K $901K $770K
Earnings Multiple 21.7x 20.9x 18.5x 4.0x 3.8x 3.3x
DegreeWorth Score 69 68 62 52 51 45

For the full AI analysis of Political Science and Government career paths, see the American Public University System or Harvard University program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Political Science and Government graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap
$202,704
American Public University System saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$4,780/yr
Harvard University grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
20.9x / 3.8x
Earnings multiple (10yr earnings ÷ tuition)

Career Paths

Political Science and Government graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Political scientists $139,380 500 -3.1% 48%
Managers, all other $136,550 106,700 +4.5% 47%
Economics teachers, postsecondary $119,980 1,200 +2.1% 48%
Economists $115,440 900 +1.2% 61%
Political science teachers, postsecondary $94,680 1,600 +2.0% 48%
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education $64,580 66,200 -1.6% 33%
Social science research assistants $58,040 5,200 +4.4% 67%
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Explore Each Program

Political Science and Government at American Public University System → Political Science and Government at Harvard University →

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Political Science and Government Overview

View all schools offering Political Science and Government →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Political Science and Government: American Public University System or Harvard University?
American Public University System scores 68/100 while Harvard University scores 51/100. American Public University System has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Political Science and Government?
American Public University System has an in-state earnings multiple of 20.9x vs Harvard University's 3.8x. That means American Public University System grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $202,704 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do American Public University System and Harvard University compare on Political Science and Government earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $56,763 at American Public University System vs $61,543 at Harvard University. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $701,623 vs $901,499 — a difference of $199,876.
How much does Political Science and Government cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $33,600 at American Public University System and $236,304 at Harvard University. Both programs lead to the same Political Science and Government career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.