Political Science: American Public University System vs San Diego State University
Head-to-Head
| American Public University System | San Diego State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.4x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 18.4x | 5.7x |
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $33,600 | $33,160 |
| Year 1 Earnings | $56,763 | $38,060 |
| 10-Year Earnings | $619K | $464K |
| Median Debt | $21,728 | $17,364 |
| Debt-to-Earnings Ratio | 4.6 months | 5.5 months |
| DegreeWorth Score (In-State) | 79/100 | 68/100 |
Both programs have very high AI automation risk (50% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Political Science graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →
ROI Breakdown
How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Political Science graduates.
| American Public University System | San Diego State University | |
|---|---|---|
| 4-Year Tuition (In-State) | $33,600 | $33,160 |
| 4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) | $33,600 | $80,680 |
| 10-Year Projected Earnings | $619K | $464K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 18.4x | 14.0x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 18.4x | 5.7x |
| 5-Year Salary Growth | +54% | +87% |
"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 (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.
| American Public University System | San Diego State University | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optim. | Base | Pessim. | Optim. | Base | Pessim. | |
| 10-Year Earnings | $964K | $619K | $410K | $847K | $464K | $275K |
| Earnings Multiple (IS) | 28.7x | 18.4x | 12.2x | 25.5x | 14.0x | 8.3x |
| DegreeWorth Score | 82 | 79 | 73 | 73 | 68 | 60 |
For the full AI analysis of Political Science career paths, see the American Public University System or San Diego State University program pages.
Earnings Trajectory Comparison
Projected annual earnings for Political Science graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.
Career Paths
Political Science 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% |