International Relations and National Security Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public · Federal field 4509

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$8,113 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 33.1% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $29,273 / year
10-year scenario: +15% · Positive payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+96%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$38,810 → $75,882

90Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

54Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

116Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

106Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$42,979Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

—Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$19,680

Institution-wide annual average net price—not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$24,766

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$74,709

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$263/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

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AVERAGE NET PRICE$19,680Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$32,198Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE84.8%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE80.7%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$38,810Year 1

$74,709Year 4

$75,882Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.2% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,226

Estimated loan payment$263

106borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$74,709 vs. $66,596

$8,113 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for—not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$134,260 median wageMI estimate · 9,380 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$107,060 median wageMI estimate · 380 jobs · 25-1065+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degreePolitical Scientists$86,290 median wageMI estimate · 180 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degree

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