International Relations and National Security Studies programs

CIP 4509 · Social Sciences · ranked by median earnings four years after completion

139 institutions report graduate earnings for International Relations and National Security Studies programs (College Scorecard, 2024-25). Across them the median is $70,655 four years after completion, with a typical debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34× and 87% of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold. Indicatively, 2 of the 163 programs with both earnings and a benchmark fall below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026); the rest clear it.

National ranking

#	Institution	Earn 4yr	% > threshold	Median debt	Debt/earn	Earnings premium	2 of 3 yrs
1	Georgetown UniversityDC · Master's	$118,569 n=265	99% 5yr	$74,360	0.63×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
2	Rice UniversityTX · Master's	$116,551 n=17	78% 1yr	—	—	Above +78%	—
3	Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Master's	$114,716 n=391	85%	$51,455	0.45×	Above +51%	Clears 2/2
4	Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · UG cert	$110,686 n=137	94% 5yr	$19,500	0.18×	Above +196%	Clears 2/2
5	Tufts UniversityMA · Master's	$108,836 n=199	92% 5yr	$54,446	0.50×	Above +44%	Clears 2/2
6	Columbia University in the City of New YorkNY · Master's	$107,574 n=116	100%	$80,500	0.75×	Above +51%	Clears 2/2
7	University of Massachusetts-LowellMA · Master's	$103,784 n=54	90% 1yr	$19,662	0.19×	Above +37%	—
8	University of California-San DiegoCA · Master's	$101,102 n=79	95% 5yr	$44,160	0.44×	Above +34%	Clears 2/2
9	Duke UniversityNC · Post-bacc cert	$100,686 n=21	94% 1yr	—	—	Above +71%	—
10	American Public University SystemWV · Master's	$100,647 n=65	91% 5yr	$33,731	0.34×	Above +93%	Clears 2/2
11	George Mason UniversityVA · Master's	$100,525 n=109	97% 5yr	$34,250	0.34×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
12	George Washington UniversityDC · Master's	$100,024 n=420	97% 5yr	$56,634	0.57×	Above +16%	Clears 2/2
13	Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Bachelor's	$99,205 n=49	87% 5yr	$12,000	0.12×	Above +136%	Clears 2/2
14	American UniversityDC · Master's	$97,808 n=423	86%	$61,500	0.63×	Above +13%	Clears 2/2
15	Institute of World PoliticsDC · Master's	$97,002 n=49	90% 5yr	$60,843	0.63×	Above +12%	Clears 2/2
16	Claremont McKenna CollegeCA · Bachelor's	$96,520 n=17	—	$15,500	0.16×	Above +151%	—
17	University of ArizonaAZ · Master's	$96,058 n=45	90% 1yr	$41,000	0.43×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
18	Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Master's	$95,282 n=98	96% 5yr	$30,500	0.32×	Above +45%	Clears 2/2
19	Fairfield UniversityCT · Bachelor's	$94,347 n=18	—	$27,000	0.29×	Above +123%	—
20	San Diego State UniversityCA · Master's	$94,199 n=47	88% 1yr	$29,455	0.31×	Above +25%	—
21	Fordham UniversityNY · Master's	$93,706 n=16	—	—	—	Above +32%	—
22	New York UniversityNY · Master's	$93,034 n=150	95% 5yr	$102,482	1.10×	Above +31%	Clears 2/2
23	Syracuse UniversityNY · Master's	$92,844 n=38	97% 5yr	$41,744	0.45×	Above +31%	Below 1/2
24	Middlebury CollegeVT · Bachelor's	$92,728 n=31	91% 5yr	$15,191	0.16×	Above +137%	Clears 2/2
25	Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyCA · Bachelor's	$92,728 n=31	91% 5yr	$15,191	0.16×	Above +141%	Clears 2/2
26	Middlebury CollegeVT · Master's	$92,176 n=125	90% 5yr	$74,123	0.80×	Above +71%	Clears 2/2
27	Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyCA · Master's	$92,176 n=125	90% 5yr	$74,123	0.80×	Above +22%	Clears 2/2
28	Stanford UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$91,075 n=18	91% 5yr	$7,550	0.08×	Above +137%	Clears 2/2
29	William & MaryVA · Bachelor's	$91,065 n=41	85% 5yr	$20,500	0.23×	Above +139%	Clears 2/2
30	Bucknell UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$90,393 n=17	100% 5yr	$27,000	0.30×	Above +140%	Clears 2/2
31	Norwich UniversityVT · Master's	$89,927 n=115	90% 5yr	$37,167	0.41×	Above +67%	Clears 2/2
32	Seton Hall UniversityNJ · Master's	$89,431 n=47	89% 5yr	$53,152	0.59×	Above +16%	Below 1/2
33	Webster UniversityMO · Master's	$88,756 n=44	86% 5yr	$41,000	0.46×	Above +53%	—
34	Angelo State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$87,991 n=20	91% 1yr	—	—	Above +146%	—
35	University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh CampusPA · Professional	$87,777 n=72	97% 5yr	$41,000	0.47×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
36	University of PennsylvaniaPA · Bachelor's	$87,439 n=28	91% 5yr	$10,470	0.12×	Above +132%	Clears 2/2
37	Brown UniversityRI · Bachelor's	$86,780 n=32	100% 5yr	$12,000	0.14×	Above +107%	Clears 2/2
38	Angelo State UniversityTX · Master's	$86,451 n=31	77% 1yr	$26,806	0.31×	Above +32%	—
39	Arizona State University Campus ImmersionAZ · Master's	$85,299 n=69	86% 1yr	$42,940	0.50×	Above +39%	—
40	Arizona State University Digital ImmersionAZ · Master's	$85,299 n=69	86% 1yr	$42,940	0.50×	Above +39%	—
41	University of Southern CaliforniaCA · Bachelor's	$84,866 n=156	83%	$13,247	0.16×	Above +121%	Clears 2/2
42	The University of Texas at AustinTX · Master's	$84,481 n=43	94% 5yr	$41,000	0.48×	Above +29%	Clears 2/2
43	University of MiamiFL · Bachelor's	$84,474 n=28	84% 5yr	$16,478	0.20×	Above +150%	Clears 2/2
44	University of ChicagoIL · Master's	$83,492 n=27	85% 5yr	$37,867	0.45×	Above +22%	Clears 2/2
45	University of Virginia-Main CampusVA · Bachelor's	$82,991 n=128	88% 5yr	$19,500	0.23×	Above +118%	Clears 2/2
46	Georgetown UniversityDC · Bachelor's	$82,197 n=131	92%	$17,500	0.21×	Above +128%	Clears 2/2
47	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Master's	$81,886 n=21	—	—	—	Above +47%	—
48	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ · Master's	$81,886 n=21	—	—	—	Above +33%	—
49	Boston UniversityMA · Master's	$81,518 n=21	90% 5yr	$86,165	1.06×	Above +8%	Below 1/2
50	Texas A&M University-College StationTX · Grad cert	$79,886 n=40	84% 5yr	$20,500	0.26×	Above +22%	Clears 2/2
51	Lehigh UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$79,569 n=20	89% 5yr	$21,250	0.27×	Above +111%	Clears 2/2
52	Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusGA · Bachelor's	$79,264 n=16	—	$19,500	0.25×	Above +125%	—
53	Emory UniversityGA · Bachelor's	$78,029 n=43	93% 5yr	$19,500	0.25×	Above +121%	Clears 2/2
54	Tufts UniversityMA · Bachelor's	$77,998 n=68	92% 5yr	$16,250	0.21×	Above +79%	Clears 2/2
55	Hobart William Smith CollegesNY · Bachelor's	$77,977 n=19	65% 1yr	$26,000	0.33×	Above +105%	—
56	Johns Hopkins UniversityMD · Grad cert	$77,954 n=37	—	$20,500	0.26×	Above +3%	—
57	Tulane University of LouisianaLA · Bachelor's	$77,300 n=43	88% 5yr	$20,000	0.26×	Above +122%	Clears 2/2
58	Fordham UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$77,234 n=99	63%	$24,759	0.32×	Above +103%	Clears 2/2
59	Colgate UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$77,199 n=18	100% 5yr	$10,080	0.13×	Above +103%	Clears 2/2
60	George Washington UniversityDC · Bachelor's	$76,751 n=433	64%	$20,958	0.27×	Above +113%	Clears 2/2
61	California State University Maritime AcademyCA · Bachelor's	$76,478 n=38	72% 1yr	$25,500	0.33×	Above +99%	—
62	DePaul UniversityIL · Master's	$75,622 n=24	91% 5yr	$40,198	0.53×	Above +10%	Below 1/2
63	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachFL · Bachelor's	$75,520 n=87	93% 5yr	$22,500	0.30×	Above +124%	Clears 2/2
64	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottAZ · Bachelor's	$75,520 n=87	93% 5yr	$22,500	0.30×	Above +105%	Clears 2/2
65	Northeastern UniversityMA · Bachelor's	$74,816 n=71	91% 5yr	$21,000	0.28×	Above +72%	Clears 2/2
66	Michigan State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$74,709 n=105	86%	$23,750	0.32×	Above +113%	Clears 2/2
67	Northwestern UniversityIL · Bachelor's	$74,477 n=28	91% 5yr	$19,234	0.26×	Above +98%	Clears 2/2
68	University of DenverCO · Master's	$74,159 n=87	95% 5yr	$94,837	1.28×	Above +10%	Clears 2/2
69	American UniversityDC · Bachelor's	$73,865 n=444	72%	$23,250	0.32×	Above +105%	Clears 2/2
70	Virginia Military InstituteVA · Bachelor's	$72,700 n=62	96% 5yr	$21,875	0.30×	Above +91%	Clears 2/2
71	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$71,988 n=95	89% 5yr	$21,250	0.29×	Above +89%	Clears 2/2
72	Connecticut CollegeCT · Bachelor's	$71,960 n=16	70% 1yr	$25,605	0.36×	Above +70%	Clears 2/2
73	Seton Hall UniversityNJ · Bachelor's	$71,949 n=77	83% 5yr	$20,500	0.28×	Above +80%	Clears 2/2
74	Florida State UniversityFL · Master's	$71,829 n=33	84% 5yr	$36,000	0.50×	Above +29%	Below 1/2
75	Fairmont State UniversityWV · Bachelor's	$71,751 n=20	59% 1yr	$18,896	0.26×	Above +104%	—
76	Brigham Young UniversityUT · Bachelor's	$71,622 n=21	88% 5yr	$11,495	0.16×	Above +80%	Clears 2/2
77	Liberty UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$71,436 n=31	91% 5yr	$21,750	0.30×	Above +88%	Clears 2/2
78	University of Washington-Seattle CampusWA · Master's	$71,169 n=20	—	$53,665	0.75×	Below -5%	—
79	Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusPA · Bachelor's	$71,001 n=112	78%	$24,375	0.34×	Above +88%	Clears 2/2
80	Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyPA · Bachelor's	$71,001 n=112	78%	$24,375	0.34×	Above +88%	—
81	Pennsylvania State University-World CampusPA · Bachelor's	$71,001 n=112	78%	$24,375	0.34×	Above +88%	Clears 2/2
82	The New SchoolNY · Master's	$70,655 n=89	92%	$48,671	0.69×	Below +0%	Below 2/2
83	University of GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's	$70,510 n=107	100%	$18,761	0.27×	Above +100%	Clears 2/2
84	Rollins CollegeFL · Bachelor's	$70,502 n=25	83% 5yr	$27,000	0.38×	Above +109%	Clears 2/2
85	Occidental CollegeCA · Bachelor's	$70,394 n=34	88% 5yr	$19,275	0.27×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
86	North Carolina State University at RaleighNC · Master's	$70,333 n=24	72% 1yr	$33,450	0.48×	Above +20%	—
87	George Mason UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$69,399 n=196	75%	$20,117	0.29×	Above +82%	Clears 2/2
88	James Madison UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$68,798 n=87	91% 5yr	$18,138	0.26×	Above +81%	Clears 2/2
89	Troy UniversityAL · Master's	$68,373 n=16	79% 1yr	—	—	Above +19%	—
90	Elon UniversityNC · Bachelor's	$68,262 n=22	73% 5yr	$23,250	0.34×	Above +99%	Clears 2/2
91	DePaul UniversityIL · Bachelor's	$68,180 n=34	84% 5yr	$20,094	0.29×	Above +81%	Clears 2/2
92	Syracuse UniversityNY · Bachelor's	$68,049 n=102	92% 5yr	$26,068	0.38×	Above +79%	Clears 2/2
93	Norwich UniversityVT · Bachelor's	$68,004 n=41	92% 5yr	$18,000	0.27×	Above +74%	Clears 2/2
94	Washington CollegeMD · Bachelor's	$67,983 n=19	—	$25,961	0.38×	Above +62%	—
95	University of North GeorgiaGA · Bachelor's	$67,692 n=29	80% 1yr	$20,500	0.30×	Above +92%	Clears 2/2
96	University of RochesterNY · Bachelor's	$67,531 n=19	95% 5yr	$21,750	0.32×	Above +78%	Clears 2/2
97	Baylor UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$67,484 n=42	86% 5yr	$22,409	0.33×	Above +89%	Clears 2/2
98	Miami University-OxfordOH · Bachelor's	$67,301 n=53	89% 5yr	$20,475	0.30×	Above +83%	Clears 2/2
99	University of California-DavisCA · Bachelor's	$67,056 n=180	68%	$12,500	0.19×	Above +74%	Clears 2/2
100	The College of New JerseyNJ · Bachelor's	$67,001 n=34	86% 5yr	$23,250	0.35×	Above +68%	Clears 2/2
101	Boston UniversityMA · Bachelor's	$66,661 n=141	99%	$23,394	0.35×	Above +53%	Clears 2/2
102	SUNY College at GeneseoNY · Bachelor's	$66,435 n=50	85% 5yr	$17,500	0.26×	Above +75%	Clears 2/2
103	Marquette UniversityWI · Bachelor's	$66,180 n=37	71% 1yr	$20,750	0.31×	Above +70%	—
104	Ohio State University-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's	$66,064 n=176	83%	$18,384	0.28×	Above +79%	Clears 2/2
105	San Francisco State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$65,775 n=85	73%	$16,625	0.25×	Above +71%	Clears 2/2
106	American Public University SystemWV · Bachelor's	$65,510 n=59	74% 5yr	$14,947	0.23×	Above +86%	Clears 2/2
107	Wheaton CollegeIL · Bachelor's	$65,230 n=29	59% 1yr	$23,250	0.36×	Above +73%	Clears 2/2
108	Duquesne UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$65,169 n=34	95% 5yr	$25,000	0.38×	Above +73%	Clears 2/2
109	University of KentuckyKY · Master's	$65,155 n=37	92% 5yr	$30,750	0.47×	Above +14%	Clears 2/2
110	University of DelawareDE · Bachelor's	$64,715 n=74	74% 5yr	$24,748	0.38×	Above +68%	Clears 2/2
111	Western Kentucky UniversityKY · Bachelor's	$64,710 n=23	—	—	—	Above +86%	—
112	Hamilton CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$64,585 n=20	—	$19,000	0.29×	Above +70%	—
113	SIT Graduate InstituteVT · Master's	$64,561 n=91	100%	$47,125	0.73×	Above +20%	Clears 2/2
114	Florida International UniversityFL · Bachelor's	$64,399 n=186	58%	$17,662	0.27×	Above +91%	Clears 2/2
115	Florida State UniversityFL · Bachelor's	$63,984 n=361	63%	$16,750	0.26×	Above +89%	Clears 2/2
116	Vassar CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$63,591 n=17	90% 5yr	$20,232	0.32×	Above +67%	Clears 2/2
117	Dickinson CollegePA · Bachelor's	$62,570 n=37	100% 5yr	$19,000	0.30×	Above +66%	Clears 2/2
118	University of MaineME · Bachelor's	$62,555 n=20	—	$23,000	0.37×	Above +71%	—
119	University of San DiegoCA · Bachelor's	$61,509 n=25	79% 5yr	$24,100	0.39×	Above +60%	Clears 2/2
120	Central Michigan UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$61,331 n=24	95% 5yr	$26,750	0.44×	Above +75%	Clears 2/2
121	University of New Hampshire-Main CampusNH · Bachelor's	$60,577 n=44	76% 5yr	$27,000	0.45×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
122	Northern Arizona UniversityAZ · Bachelor's	$60,448 n=33	76% 5yr	$19,468	0.32×	Above +64%	Clears 2/2
123	Kennesaw State UniversityGA · Bachelor's	$60,031 n=58	62%	$21,500	0.36×	Above +70%	Clears 2/2
124	University of DenverCO · Bachelor's	$59,895 n=62	79%	$19,500	0.33×	Above +44%	Clears 2/2
125	San Diego State UniversityCA · Bachelor's	$59,733 n=84	79% 5yr	$15,124	0.25×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
126	University of San FranciscoCA · Bachelor's	$59,387 n=35	74%	$24,603	0.41×	Above +54%	Clears 2/2
127	CUNY City CollegeNY · Bachelor's	$59,039 n=50	74% 5yr	$14,060	0.24×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
128	University of South FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$58,999 n=107	95%	$16,204	0.28×	Above +75%	Clears 2/2
129	California State University-East BayCA · Bachelor's	$58,885 n=17	—	$14,334	0.24×	Above +53%	—
130	Grand Valley State UniversityMI · Bachelor's	$58,802 n=42	45%	$18,535	0.32×	Above +68%	Below 1/2
131	Loyola University ChicagoIL · Bachelor's	$58,511 n=71	76% 5yr	$21,500	0.37×	Above +55%	Clears 2/2
132	University of Nevada-RenoNV · Bachelor's	$58,002 n=33	87% 5yr	$21,094	0.36×	Above +54%	Clears 2/2
133	Indiana University-BloomingtonIN · Bachelor's	$57,806 n=86	88% 5yr	$16,832	0.29×	Above +54%	Clears 2/2
134	Lewis & Clark CollegeOR · Bachelor's	$57,783 n=33	84% 5yr	$23,000	0.40×	Above +57%	Clears 2/2
135	Towson UniversityMD · Bachelor's	$57,498 n=30	82% 5yr	$21,824	0.38×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
136	University of Cincinnati-Main CampusOH · Bachelor's	$57,228 n=25	55% 1yr	$22,500	0.39×	Above +55%	—
137	Rhodes CollegeTN · Bachelor's	$56,744 n=23	97% 5yr	$22,072	0.39×	Above +62%	Clears 2/2
138	Portland State UniversityOR · Bachelor's	$56,436 n=31	71%	$21,666	0.38×	Above +54%	Below 1/2
139	University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesMN · Bachelor's	$56,257 n=92	66%	$19,632	0.35×	Above +41%	Clears 2/2
140	University of California-RiversideCA · Bachelor's	$56,108 n=74	50%	$18,829	0.34×	Above +46%	Clears 2/2
141	Saint Louis UniversityMO · Bachelor's	$55,964 n=24	79% 5yr	$26,670	0.48×	Above +56%	Clears 2/2
142	The University of AlabamaAL · Bachelor's	$55,419 n=31	84% 5yr	$23,250	0.42×	Above +61%	Clears 2/2
143	University of South Carolina-ColumbiaSC · Bachelor's	$54,781 n=43	64% 5yr	$18,875	0.34×	Above +59%	Clears 2/2
144	University of Wisconsin-OshkoshWI · Bachelor's	$54,506 n=18	—	$24,250	0.45×	Above +40%	—
145	Old Dominion UniversityVA · Bachelor's	$54,505 n=41	78% 5yr	$21,187	0.39×	Above +43%	Clears 2/2
146	Gonzaga UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$53,458 n=17	92% 5yr	$15,589	0.29×	Above +25%	Clears 2/2
147	Texas State UniversityTX · Bachelor's	$53,407 n=26	—	$17,750	0.33×	Above +49%	—
148	California State University-ChicoCA · Bachelor's	$52,150 n=32	80% 5yr	$15,000	0.29×	Above +36%	Clears 2/2
149	Kent State University at KentOH · Bachelor's	$51,747 n=17	94% 5yr	$25,500	0.49×	Above +41%	—
150	University of Mary WashingtonVA · Bachelor's	$51,166 n=28	86% 5yr	$25,043	0.49×	Above +35%	Clears 2/2
151	Eastern Washington UniversityWA · Bachelor's	$50,238 n=19	95% 5yr	$14,832	0.29×	Above +18%	Clears 2/2
152	Drake UniversityIA · Bachelor's	$49,764 n=18	—	$23,500	0.47×	Above +29%	—
153	Indiana University-IndianapolisIN · Bachelor's	$49,069 n=16	—	$22,500	0.46×	Above +31%	—
154	University of ArkansasAR · Bachelor's	$48,925 n=44	91%	$20,500	0.42×	Above +44%	Clears 2/2
155	University of IdahoID · Bachelor's	$48,662 n=33	92% 5yr	$23,785	0.49×	Above +37%	Clears 2/2
156	Saint Cloud State UniversityMN · Bachelor's	$48,463 n=21	—	$18,250	0.38×	Above +21%	Clears 2/2
157	Georgia Southern UniversityGA · Bachelor's	$47,844 n=19	70% 5yr	$25,082	0.52×	Above +36%	Clears 2/2
158	University of Puget SoundWA · Bachelor's	$47,734 n=45	82% 5yr	$25,798	0.54×	Above +12%	Clears 2/2
159	Cleveland State UniversityOH · Bachelor's	$45,045 n=23	—	$22,960	0.51×	Above +22%	—
160	Susquehanna UniversityPA · Bachelor's	$44,784 n=16	—	$27,000	0.60×	Above +19%	—
161	University of West FloridaFL · Bachelor's	$43,652 n=16	74% 5yr	$16,202	0.37×	Above +29%	Clears 2/2
162	The University of Texas at San AntonioTX · Bachelor's	$42,864 n=29	—	$21,522	0.50×	Above +20%	—
163	Northern Kentucky UniversityKY · Bachelor's	$41,730 n=18	—	$27,000	0.65×	Above +20%	—

% > threshold is ED's own share of graduates earning above the federal earnings threshold, taken from the best available measurement window (4-, 5- or 1-year) pooled across all nine College Scorecard Field-of-Study releases; a chip marks any figure not on the 4-year window. Earnings premium compares median earnings four years out to the U.S. Census ACS median for a high-school graduate (undergraduate credentials) or bachelor's-degree holder (graduate credentials) in the institution's state. 2 of 3 yrs flags programs below that benchmark in two of the latest three reported cohort-years — the statutory trigger under the 2025 federal earnings-premium test (effective July 1, 2026). Indicative estimates; the Department of Education's official determination may differ. Figures lag the current year by 2–3 years.

By state — median earnings, 4 yrs out

State	Median earn 4yr	Programs
District of Columbia	$97,002	7
Vermont	$89,927	5
Texas	$84,481	9
Arizona	$83,592	6
Massachusetts	$79,758	6
Maryland	$77,954	5
New York	$73,927	14
New Jersey	$71,949	3
West Virginia	$71,751	3
Virginia	$71,712	10
Illinois	$71,328	6
Pennsylvania	$71,001	10
Florida	$70,502	9
California	$70,394	17
North Carolina	$70,333	3
Georgia	$69,101	6
Kentucky	$64,710	3
Michigan	$61,331	3
Indiana	$57,806	3
Ohio	$57,228	5
Washington	$51,848	4

States with at least 3 reporting International Relations and National Security Studies programs, by median graduate earnings.

Frequently asked

Which colleges have the highest-paying International Relations and National Security Studies programs?

By median earnings four years after completion, the highest-paying International Relations and National Security Studies programs in this dataset are Georgetown University ($118,569), Rice University ($116,551), Johns Hopkins University ($114,716). Earnings reflect College Scorecard field-of-study data (2024-25) and vary by credential level and location.

Are International Relations and National Security Studies programs at risk under the federal earnings-premium test?

Indicatively, 2 of the 163 International Relations and National Security Studies programs with both earnings and a state/national benchmark have median graduate earnings below the earnings-premium benchmark used by the 2025 federal test (effective July 1, 2026), under which a program can lose Title IV eligibility if its graduates earn less than a typical worker without the credential for 2 of 3 years. This estimate uses College Scorecard earnings vs U.S. Census ACS medians; the Department of Education's official determination uses its own cohort definition and may differ.

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Source: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard Field of Study, 2014–15 through 2022–23 cohorts plus the most-recent snapshot (2024-25); threshold pass-rates pooled across all nine releases. Earnings-premium benchmarks from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). Compiled by Ibex Insights. See the methodology.