International Relations
Social Sciences · federal classification: International Relations and National Security Studies
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $64,712 | $55,828 to $71,967 | 124 | 94% |
| Master's Degree | $89,094 | $72,412 to $97,606 | 42 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +3% (2025 to 2035), about 102,800 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $141,900 | +4.9% | 100,900 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $98,070 | +2.5% | 1,500 |
| Political Scientists | $142,080 | -2% | 400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a international relations program, of 373 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Johns Hopkins University
- American University
- George Washington University
- Georgetown University
- Tufts University
- Florida State University
- New York University
- Florida International University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.