Bachelor's+7% vs national median871 grads tracked
International Relations and National Security Studies at James Madison University
Ranked 14th of 75 bachelor's programs in International Relations and National Security Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$42,243
middle 50%: $28,841 – $56,170
Median · 5 years out
$69,087
middle 50%: $50,745 – $88,950
Median · 10 years out
$92,740
middle 50%: $67,127 – $128,934
Salary trajectory
Median earnings vs the national median for International Relations and National Security Studies (bachelor's) graduates.
This program (median)National median, same major & degreeMiddle 50% of graduates
International Relations majors earn a median $42k in year one. By year ten, salaries reach $93k.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau PSEO, release V4.13.0 2025Q4. Earnings are for graduates working in covered states; figures are medians in nominal dollars.
Will the degree pay for itself?
Drag the sliders — payback uses this program's actual salary curve.
Assumes a 6.5% APR loan and this program's median salary trajectory (interpolated between years 1, 5 and 10).
Paid off in
6.3 yrs
≈ $7,419 total interest
Same major at other universities
Penn State World Campus
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Mary Baldwin University
$72,585 · 5 yrs out
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$72,296 · 5 yrs out
Carleton College
$71,298 · 5 yrs out
Georgia Institute of Technology
$71,178 · 5 yrs out
Randolph - Macon College
$70,090 · 5 yrs out
Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
$67,403 · 5 yrs out
University of Georgia
$67,389 · 5 yrs out
SUNY College at Geneseo
$66,779 · 5 yrs out
University of Iowa
$66,338 · 5 yrs out
Liberty University
$66,162 · 5 yrs out
University of Alabama
$65,733 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at James Madison University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$149,041 · 5 yrs out
Psychology (Doctorate)
$113,393 · 5 yrs out
Information Science/Studies (Bachelor's)
$109,323 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$108,391 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$107,900 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$105,157 · 5 yrs out
Systems Science and Theory (Bachelor's)
$101,995 · 5 yrs out
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's)
$101,563 · 5 yrs out
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's)
$97,528 · 5 yrs out
Business/Managerial Economics (Bachelor's)
$97,305 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out
Engineering, General (Bachelor's)
$94,450 · 5 yrs out