Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution: 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 16 college programs, at a typical net price.
Graduate earnings clearly outpace the cost and debt — this degree pays back quickly.
What Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution pays
Career outlook for Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution graduates
The job market for the occupations Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary teachers, all other | 183,400 | +1.8% | $78,490 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Social scientists and related workers, all other | 40,800 | -1.7% | $100,340 | Bachelor's degree |
| Arbitrators, mediators, and conciliators | 9,100 | +4.3% | $67,710 | Bachelor'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.
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution vs similar majors
How Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution stacks up against the closest fields in Interdisciplinary Studies on pay, debt, ROI and the DR Rating. The best figure in each row is highlighted.
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution Interdisciplinary Studies · this major | Human Computer Interaction | Systems Science and Theory | Mathematics and Computer Science | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DR Rating | 72 B | 84 A | 90 A | 92 A |
| ROI verdict | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return | Strong return |
| Median earnings (5 yr) | $76,478 | $122,421 | $110,759 | $93,003 |
| Median earnings (1 yr) | $51,963 | $76,324 | $69,716 | $56,140 |
| ROI vs cost | +261% | +806% | +710% | +502% |
| Typical debt | $41,500 | $36,897 | $25,199 | $21,409 |
| Colleges offering it | 16 | 7 | 4 | 2 |
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution 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 Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
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 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC | Associate's | $78,097 | $14,000 | +1,065% | Strong return |
| 2 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA | Associate's | $75,726 | — | +1,040% | Strong return |
| 3 | California State University-Dominguez Hills Carson, CA | Certificate | $97,885 | $39,618 | +982% | Strong return |
| 4 | Kennesaw State University Kennesaw, GA | Certificate | $94,498 | $30,750 | +593% | Strong return |
| 5 | Colgate University Hamilton, NY | Associate's | $79,025 | — | +491% | Strong return |
| 6 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Certificate | $95,967 | $43,917 | +481% | Strong return |
| 7 | George Mason University Fairfax, VA | Associate's | $63,777 | $25,000 | +318% | Strong return |
| 8 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MD | Associate's | $62,494 | $20,000 | +309% | Strong return |
| 9 | Portland State University Portland, OR | Certificate | $59,068 | — | +268% | Strong return |
| 10 | University of Oregon Eugene, OR | Certificate | $72,241 | — | +207% | Strong return |
| 11 | American University Washington, DC | Certificate | $92,285 | $62,122 | +148% | Strong return |
| 12 | Georgetown University Washington, DC | Certificate | $90,504 | $104,270 | +126% | Strong return |
| 13 | Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX | Professional | $68,059 | $33,823 | +97% | Strong return |
| 14 | Southern Methodist University Dallas, TX | Certificate | $79,609 | $42,000 | +94% | Strong return |
| 15 | Abilene Christian University Abilene, TX | Certificate | $63,815 | $40,999 | +57% | Break-even |
| 16 | Salisbury University Salisbury, MD | Certificate | $50,604 | — | -21% | Poor 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.