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GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATE · DEGREE PAYOFF · FEDERAL FIELD 4509

International Relations and National Security Studies: is this graduate/professional certificate worth it?

National picture across 2 reporting college programs.

Personal baseline needed

$78,920 in median year-4 earnings

A credible return for this credential must start with what the student would otherwise earn. The federal data does not provide that personal baseline.

$78,920Median year-4 earnings

$20,062Average institution net-price context

Not availableMedian federal debt

Use your actual price and alternative earnings before evaluating return. Model your own starting point →

WHAT THIS DEGREE PAYS

Observed national outcomes

$78,920Median reported earnings · year 4

$79,331Average reported earnings · year 5

Not availableMedian federal debt

54thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential

2Reporting programs

2With year-4 earnings

COMPARE CREDENTIAL LEVELS

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

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Bachelor's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $66,308
Federal debt: $21,864
Reporting programs: 128

118 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Post-baccalaureate Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $100,686
Federal debt: $22,250
Reporting programs: 2

1 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

Master's Degree

Year-4 earnings: $91,052
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 40

40 report earnings →OPEN PROFILE

First Professional Degree

Year-4 earnings: $87,777
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 1

1 report earnings →CURRENT VIEW

Graduate/Professional Certificate

Year-4 earnings: $78,920
Federal debt: Not available
Reporting programs: 2

2 report earnings →

COLLEGE-TO-COLLEGE RANGE

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$77,954National median$78,92075th percentile$77,954

2 programs report year‑4 earnings.

WHERE OUTCOMES ARE STRONGEST

See the spread, not just the national number.

1Texas A&M University-College Station$79,886 2Johns Hopkins University$77,954

Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking

WHERE THIS FIELD CAN LEAD

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

BEST COLLEGES FOR INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND NATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES

Same degree, different outcomes

Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. Automated ROI is withheld when an exact program price or personal earnings baseline is required.

#	College	Location	Earnings, year 4	Federal debt	ROI status	Cost context
1	Texas A&M University-College StationGraduate/Professional Certificate	College Station, TX	$79,886	Not available	Baseline needed	$21,315
2	Johns Hopkins UniversityGraduate/Professional Certificate	Baltimore, MD	$77,954	Not available	Baseline needed	$18,809

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.