Political Science and Government: Brigham Young University vs Columbia University in the City of New York

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
26.0x
$25,984 tuition
2.8x
$276,180 tuition
$676,073 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit
$766,700 10-yr earnings · Private nonprofit

Head-to-Head

Brigham Young University Columbia University in the City of New York
Earnings Multiple 26.0x 2.8x
4-Year Tuition $25,984 $276,180
Year 1 Earnings $47,020 $61,077
10-Year Earnings $676K $767K
Median Debt $10,646 $21,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.7 months 4.2 months
DegreeWorth Score 66/100 48/100
Acceptance Rate 69.2% 4.2%

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.

Brigham Young University Columbia University in the City of New York
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $25,984 $276,180
10-Year Projected Earnings $676K $767K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 26.0x 2.8x
5-Year Salary Growth +69% +62%

"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.

Brigham Young University Columbia University in the City of New York
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $700K $676K $601K $803K $767K $669K
Earnings Multiple 26.9x 26.0x 23.1x 2.9x 2.8x 2.4x
DegreeWorth Score 68 66 61 49 48 42

For the full AI analysis of Political Science and Government career paths, see the Brigham Young University or Columbia University in the City of New York program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

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

Tuition Gap
$250,196
Brigham Young University saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$14,057/yr
Columbia University in the City of New York grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
26.0x / 2.8x
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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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Political Science and Government: Brigham Young University or Columbia University in the City of New York?
Brigham Young University scores 66/100 while Columbia University in the City of New York scores 48/100. Brigham Young University 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?
Brigham Young University has an in-state earnings multiple of 26.0x vs Columbia University in the City of New York's 2.8x. That means Brigham Young University grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition. The $250,196 tuition gap is the biggest driver of this difference.
How do Brigham Young University and Columbia University in the City of New York compare on Political Science and Government earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $47,020 at Brigham Young University vs $61,077 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $676,073 vs $766,700 — a difference of $90,627.
How much does Political Science and Government cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $25,984 at Brigham Young University and $276,180 at Columbia University in the City of New York. Median debt at graduation is $10,646 vs $21,500. 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.