Bachelor's+4% vs national median893 grads tracked
International Relations and National Security Studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Ranked 15th of 75 bachelor's programs in International Relations and National Security Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$44,687
middle 50%: $30,741 – $60,869
Median · 5 years out
$67,403
middle 50%: $50,079 – $91,723
Median · 10 years out
$92,508
middle 50%: $62,212 – $126,603
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 graduates at Virginia Tech start with a $45k median salary. Pay grows to $67k by year five and $93k by year ten.
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
≈ $7,293 total interest
Same major at other universities
Pennsylvania State University (The)
$72,296 · 5 yrs out
Butler University
$71,899 · 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
James Madison University
$69,087 · 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
Miami University
$65,560 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$160,426 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$155,674 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$148,193 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$132,072 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$130,533 · 5 yrs out
Applied Mathematics (Bachelor's)
$129,123 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)
$125,251 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$121,443 · 5 yrs out
Computer Engineering (Bachelor's)
$119,838 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Master's)
$116,512 · 5 yrs out
Education (Doctorate)
$109,749 · 5 yrs out