International Relations and National Security Studies: is it worth it?
A 0–100 score blending this major’s national earnings, ROI and typical debt. How it’s scored.
National picture across 145 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What International Relations and National Security Studies pays
Career outlook for International Relations and National Security Studies graduates
The job market for the occupations International Relations and National Security Studies graduates typically enter, projected through 2034 — from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This is the demand side, complementing the IRS-verified graduate earnings above.
Top jobs for this major
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Growth to 2034 | Median pay | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, all other | 1,333,700 | +4.5% | $136,550 | Bachelor's degree |
| Political science teachers, postsecondary | 21,800 | +2.0% | $94,680 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political scientists | 6,500 | -3.1% | $139,380 | Master's degree |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections (2024–34) & the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk. Occupation pay is the national median wage for the role — not the same as graduate earnings, which we draw from IRS records.
International Relations and National Security Studies vs similar majors
How International Relations and National Security Studies stacks up against the closest fields in Social Sciences on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| International Relations and National Security Studies Social Sciences · this major | Economics | Urban Studies/Affairs | Political Science and Government | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 74 B | 88 A | 64 C | 57 C |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $72,857 | $84,830 | $66,845 | $64,077 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $47,208 | $55,377 | $45,013 | $37,559 |
| ROI vs cost | +239% | +400% | +173% | +139% |
| Typical debt | $28,128 | $21,120 | $21,781 | $21,535 |
| Colleges offering it | 145 | 371 | 33 | 536 |
International Relations and National Security Studies earnings over time
National median earnings one year after graduating, by cohort year — the consistent measure available across the federal data’s history.
Best colleges for International Relations and National Security Studies
Ranked by the ROI of this major at each college — its graduate earnings against the cost.
| # | College | Credential | Earnings (5 yr) | Median debt | 10-yr ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University Stanford, CA | Associate's | $128,687 | — | +2,931% | Strong return |
| 2 | Indiana University-Bloomington Bloomington, IN | Certificate | $107,488 | $19,500 | +2,574% | Strong return |
| 3 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Associate's | $98,430 | — | +1,698% | Strong return |
| 4 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT | Associate's | $94,047 | — | +1,476% | Strong return |
| 5 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV | Certificate | $105,395 | $33,731 | +1,092% | Strong return |
| 6 | CUNY City College New York, NY | Associate's | $60,089 | $14,060 | +1,090% | Strong return |
| 7 | Middlebury College Middlebury, VT | Associate's | $116,041 | — | +1,028% | Strong return |
| 8 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Associate's | $91,204 | $12,000 | +1,000% | Strong return |
| 9 | Brown University Providence, RI | Associate's | $104,415 | $12,000 | +985% | Strong return |
| 10 | University of Virginia-Main Campus Charlottesville, VA | Associate's | $87,416 | $19,500 | +744% | Strong return |
| 11 | University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Certificate | $104,862 | $37,867 | +717% | Strong return |
| 12 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA | Associate's | $81,921 | $20,500 | +709% | Strong return |
| 13 | Virginia Military Institute Lexington, VA | Associate's | $79,025 | $21,875 | +706% | Strong return |
| 14 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | Certificate | $97,237 | $44,160 | +692% | Strong return |
| 15 | Oakland University Rochester Hills, MI | Associate's | $59,428 | — | +691% | Strong return |
| 16 | American Public University System Charles Town, WV | Associate's | $64,125 | $14,947 | +676% | Strong return |
| 17 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Associate's | $92,024 | $10,470 | +668% | Strong return |
| 18 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Certificate | $107,973 | $34,250 | +648% | Strong return |
| 19 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Certificate | $113,563 | $51,455 | +630% | Strong return |
| 20 | Johns Hopkins University Baltimore, MD | Bachelor's | $99,165 | — | +620% | Strong return |
| 21 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY | Associate's | $86,420 | — | +619% | Strong return |
| 22 | University of California-Davis Davis, CA | Associate's | $68,661 | $12,500 | +595% | Strong return |
| 23 | Emory University Atlanta, GA | Associate's | $80,251 | $19,500 | +574% | Strong return |
| 24 | University of Georgia Athens, GA | Associate's | $67,971 | $18,761 | +562% | Strong return |
| 25 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI | Associate's | $75,882 | $23,750 | +543% | Strong return |
Related majors
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard. ROI is computed by Degree Return — see how. Read the methodology. Data as of 2024.