Bachelor's0% vs national median230 grads tracked
International Relations and National Security Studies at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Ranked 22nd of 75 bachelor's programs in International Relations and National Security Studies by 5-year earnings.
Median · 1 year out
$36,266
middle 50%: $26,182 – $49,062
Median · 5 years out
$65,011
middle 50%: $45,318 – $87,389
Median · 10 years out
$86,132
middle 50%: $57,676 – $135,319
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 and National Security Studies majors at UW-Madison earn $36k in year one. Ten-year median earnings hit $86k.
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
6.8 yrs
≈ $8,256 total interest
Same major at other universities
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
George Mason University
$64,846 · 5 yrs out
Angelo State University
$63,451 · 5 yrs out
City College of New York - CUNY
$62,336 · 5 yrs out
Bridgewater College
$61,498 · 5 yrs out
University of Mary Washington
$61,109 · 5 yrs out
Roanoke College
$60,908 · 5 yrs out
Other majors at University of Wisconsin - Madison
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Doctorate)
$227,440 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Doctorate)
$191,060 · 5 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (Master's)
$179,858 · 5 yrs out
Medicine (Doctorate)
$176,530 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctorate)
$153,901 · 5 yrs out
Health Professions and Related Programs (Doctorate)
$153,036 · 5 yrs out
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Doctorate)
$143,232 · 5 yrs out
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Bachelor's)
$140,310 · 5 yrs out
Engineering (Doctorate)
$139,926 · 5 yrs out
Mathematics and Statistics (Doctorate)
$134,767 · 5 yrs out
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services (Master's)
$133,218 · 5 yrs out
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's)
$127,595 · 5 yrs out