International Relations and National Security Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 128 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$64,201 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
13.0 yrsModeled economic break-even
−23%Modeled 10-year ROI
$66,308Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$66,308Median reported earnings · year 4
$68,402Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,864Median federal debt
56thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
128Reporting programs
118With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $110,686
- Federal debt
- $19,500
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $66,308
- Federal debt
- $21,864
- Reporting programs
- 128
Post-baccalaureate Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $100,686
- Federal debt
- $22,250
- Reporting programs
- 2
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $91,052
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 40
First Professional Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $87,777
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $78,920
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 2
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$57,783National median$66,30875th percentile$73,865
118 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Johns Hopkins University$99,2052Claremont McKenna College$96,5203Fairfield University$94,3474Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey$92,7285Middlebury College$92,7286Stanford University$91,0757William & Mary$91,0658Bucknell University$90,3939Angelo State University$87,99110University of Pennsylvania$87,439Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Managers, All OtherSOC 11-9199 · 3 crosswalk linksPolitical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySOC 25-1065 · 3 crosswalk linksPolitical ScientistsSOC 19-3094 · 3 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Johns Hopkins UniversityBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $99,205 | $12,000 | +112% | Strong payoff |
| 2 | Claremont McKenna CollegeBachelor's Degree | Claremont, CA | $96,520 | Not available | +74% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | Fairfield UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfield, CT | $94,347 | $27,000 | +33% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | Middlebury Institute of International Studies at MontereyBachelor's Degree | Monterey, CA | $92,728 | Not available | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 5 | Middlebury CollegeBachelor's Degree | Middlebury, VT | $92,728 | Not available | +56% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | Stanford UniversityBachelor's Degree | Stanford, CA | $91,075 | Not available | +96% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | William & MaryBachelor's Degree | Williamsburg, VA | $91,065 | $21,000 | +80% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Bucknell UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lewisburg, PA | $90,393 | Not available | +32% | Positive payoff |
| 9 | Angelo State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Angelo, TX | $87,991 | $11,066 | +79% | Positive payoff |
| 10 | University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $87,439 | $10,470 | +44% | Positive payoff |
| 11 | Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $86,780 | $12,000 | +49% | Positive payoff |
| 12 | University of Southern CaliforniaBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $84,866 | $13,765 | +28% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of MiamiBachelor's Degree | Coral Gables, FL | $84,474 | $17,250 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 14 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $82,991 | $20,672 | +43% | Positive payoff |
| 15 | Georgetown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $82,197 | $17,500 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 16 | Lehigh UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bethlehem, PA | $79,569 | $21,250 | +5% | Positive payoff |
| 17 | Georgia Institute of Technology-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $79,264 | Not available | +50% | Positive payoff |
| 18 | Emory UniversityBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $78,029 | $19,500 | +22% | Positive payoff |
| 19 | Tufts UniversityBachelor's Degree | Medford, MA | $77,998 | $16,375 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Hobart William Smith CollegesBachelor's Degree | Geneva, NY | $77,977 | $26,000 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 21 | Tulane University of LouisianaBachelor's Degree | New Orleans, LA | $77,300 | $20,500 | -5% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | Fordham UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bronx, NY | $77,234 | $25,843 | -10% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | Colgate UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hamilton, NY | $77,199 | Not available | +9% | Positive payoff |
| 24 | George Washington UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $76,751 | $22,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Cal Poly Maritime AcademyBachelor's Degree | Vallejo, CA | $76,478 | $26,000 | +20% | Positive payoff |
| 26 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-PrescottBachelor's Degree | Prescott, AZ | $75,520 | $22,901 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona BeachBachelor's Degree | Daytona Beach, FL | $75,520 | $22,901 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | Northeastern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $74,816 | $21,125 | -2% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $74,709 | $24,766 | +15% | Positive payoff |
| 30 | Northwestern UniversityBachelor's Degree | Evanston, IL | $74,477 | $19,234 | -1% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | American UniversityBachelor's Degree | Washington, DC | $73,865 | $23,250 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Virginia Military InstituteBachelor's Degree | Lexington, VA | $72,700 | $21,500 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 33 | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Blacksburg, VA | $71,988 | $21,500 | -4% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Connecticut CollegeBachelor's Degree | New London, CT | $71,960 | $25,855 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Seton Hall UniversityBachelor's Degree | South Orange, NJ | $71,949 | $22,500 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 36 | Fairmont State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairmont, WV | $71,751 | $24,250 | +24% | Positive payoff |
| 37 | Brigham Young UniversityBachelor's Degree | Provo, UT | $71,622 | Not available | +10% | Positive payoff |
| 38 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $71,436 | $21,750 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh ValleyBachelor's Degree | Center Valley, PA | $71,001 | $25,000 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 40 | Pennsylvania State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $71,001 | $25,000 | -17% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | Pennsylvania State University-World CampusBachelor's Degree | University Park, PA | $71,001 | $25,000 | +1% | Positive payoff |
| 42 | University of GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Athens, GA | $70,510 | $19,500 | +8% | Positive payoff |
| 43 | Rollins CollegeBachelor's Degree | Winter Park, FL | $70,502 | $27,000 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Occidental CollegeBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $70,394 | $19,275 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | George Mason UniversityBachelor's Degree | Fairfax, VA | $69,399 | $23,000 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | James Madison UniversityBachelor's Degree | Harrisonburg, VA | $68,798 | $18,460 | -13% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | Elon UniversityBachelor's Degree | Elon, NC | $68,262 | Not available | -33% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | DePaul UniversityBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $68,180 | $21,250 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | Syracuse UniversityBachelor's Degree | Syracuse, NY | $68,049 | $26,635 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | Norwich UniversityBachelor's Degree | Northfield, VT | $68,004 | $16,850 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | Washington CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestertown, MD | $67,983 | Not available | -21% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of North GeorgiaBachelor's Degree | Dahlonega, GA | $67,692 | $20,500 | +3% | Positive payoff |
| 53 | University of RochesterBachelor's Degree | Rochester, NY | $67,531 | $21,750 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | Baylor UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waco, TX | $67,484 | $22,409 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Miami University-OxfordBachelor's Degree | Oxford, OH | $67,301 | $21,977 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | University of California, DavisBachelor's Degree | Davis, CA | $67,056 | $12,416 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | The College of New JerseyBachelor's Degree | Ewing, NJ | $67,001 | $24,952 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | Boston UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $66,661 | $25,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | SUNY College at GeneseoBachelor's Degree | Geneseo, NY | $66,435 | $21,519 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Marquette UniversityBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $66,180 | $20,750 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $66,064 | $19,500 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | San Francisco State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $65,775 | $16,750 | -9% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $65,510 | $13,410 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | Wheaton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Wheaton, IL | $65,230 | $23,875 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Duquesne UniversityBachelor's Degree | Pittsburgh, PA | $65,169 | $26,113 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | University of DelawareBachelor's Degree | Newark, DE | $64,715 | $25,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Western Kentucky UniversityBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, KY | $64,710 | Not available | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | Hamilton CollegeBachelor's Degree | Clinton, NY | $64,585 | $19,000 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | Florida International UniversityBachelor's Degree | Miami, FL | $64,399 | $18,637 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | Florida State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Tallahassee, FL | $63,984 | $17,767 | -16% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Vassar CollegeBachelor's Degree | Poughkeepsie, NY | $63,591 | $20,232 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | Dickinson CollegeBachelor's Degree | Carlisle, PA | $62,570 | $19,000 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | University of MaineBachelor's Degree | Orono, ME | $62,555 | $26,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of San DiegoBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $61,509 | $24,100 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | Central Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Mount Pleasant, MI | $61,331 | $27,000 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | University of New Hampshire-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Durham, NH | $60,577 | $27,000 | -43% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Northern Arizona UniversityBachelor's Degree | Flagstaff, AZ | $60,448 | $20,632 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | Kennesaw State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kennesaw, GA | $60,031 | $23,000 | -37% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | University of DenverBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $59,895 | $19,500 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | San Diego State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Diego, CA | $59,733 | $17,134 | -39% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of San FranciscoBachelor's Degree | San Francisco, CA | $59,387 | $24,508 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | CUNY City CollegeBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $59,039 | $13,337 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | University of South FloridaBachelor's Degree | Tampa, FL | $58,999 | $18,250 | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | California State University, East BayBachelor's Degree | Hayward, CA | $58,885 | Not available | -36% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | Grand Valley State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Allendale, MI | $58,802 | $19,000 | -44% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Loyola University ChicagoBachelor's Degree | Chicago, IL | $58,511 | $21,500 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of Nevada-RenoBachelor's Degree | Reno, NV | $58,002 | $23,437 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Indiana University-BloomingtonBachelor's Degree | Bloomington, IN | $57,806 | $19,000 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 89 | Lewis & Clark CollegeBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $57,783 | $23,000 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 90 | Towson UniversityBachelor's Degree | Towson, MD | $57,498 | $25,000 | -50% | Negative payoff |
| 91 | University of Cincinnati-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Cincinnati, OH | $57,228 | $25,625 | -57% | Negative payoff |
| 92 | Rhodes CollegeBachelor's Degree | Memphis, TN | $56,744 | $22,072 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 93 | Portland State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Portland, OR | $56,436 | $24,250 | -48% | Negative payoff |
| 94 | University of Minnesota-Twin CitiesBachelor's Degree | Minneapolis, MN | $56,257 | $21,167 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 95 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $56,108 | $18,914 | -53% | Negative payoff |
| 96 | Saint Louis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Saint Louis, MO | $55,964 | Not available | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 97 | The University of AlabamaBachelor's Degree | Tuscaloosa, AL | $55,419 | $23,250 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 98 | University of South Carolina-ColumbiaBachelor's Degree | Columbia, SC | $54,781 | $20,500 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 99 | University of Wisconsin-OshkoshBachelor's Degree | Oshkosh, WI | $54,506 | $25,450 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 100 | Old Dominion UniversityBachelor's Degree | Norfolk, VA | $54,505 | $25,750 | -60% | Negative payoff |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.