International Relations and National Security Studies graduates from Northwestern University earn $74,477 median salary — above the national average for this program. Median debt: $19,234.
International Relations and National Security Studies at Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois • Bachelor's
What the IPEDS & College Scorecard Data Shows for International Relations and National Security Studies at Northwestern University
This page combines two federal data products: IPEDS institutional characteristics for Northwestern University and the College Scorecard field-of-study (FOS) file for International Relations and National Security Studies at the bachelor's credential level. The FOS file is keyed by CIP (Classification of Instructional Programs) code, which means earnings and debt figures here reflect only graduates of this specific program — not the school as a whole. IPEDS reports 34 completers in the most recent cohort for this program at Northwestern University, the denominator behind the median earnings figure.
Median graduate earnings of $74,477 represent Treasury-verified wages approximately one year after program completion, drawn from Social Security Administration records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Compared to the national mean of $58,030 across all institutions offering International Relations and National Security Studies, graduates here earn above the national average for this program. Across all programs at Northwestern University, the mean median-earnings figure is $98,858, providing internal context for whether this specific field out-earns other options at the same institution.
Debt signals complete the ROI picture. The median cumulative federal loan debt for International Relations and National Security Studies graduates at Northwestern University is $19,234, which translates to roughly $160 per month on a standard 10-year repayment plan. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.26 is under the 1.0 threshold the College Scorecard uses to flag favorable gainful-employment outcomes — earnings in year one already exceed cumulative borrowing. Program-level debt and earnings come from the Department of Education’s College Scorecard FOS release, updated annually.
Earnings Comparison
Program Details
Debt & ROI
International Relations and National Security Studies at Other Schools
| School | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University | $99,205 | $12,000 |
| Claremont McKenna College | $96,520 | — |
| Fairfield University | $94,347 | $27,000 |
| Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey | $92,728 | — |
| Middlebury College | $92,728 | — |
| Stanford University | $91,075 | — |
| William & Mary | $91,065 | $20,500 |
| Bucknell University | $90,393 | — |
| Angelo State University | $87,991 | — |
| University of Pennsylvania | $87,439 | $10,470 |
Other Programs at Northwestern University
| Program | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|
| Law | $291,132 | $154,286 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $244,399 | $172,164 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $240,637 | $76,735 |
| Engineering, Other | $211,469 | $64,256 |
| Computer Science | $197,823 | — |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies | $189,578 | $81,076 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $182,280 | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $180,186 | $42,454 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $168,632 | $69,011 |
| Information Science/Studies | $163,740 | $11,425 |
Other Schools with International Relations and National Security Studies
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About the Data
Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard Field of Study file. Earnings are median earnings for graduates after completion, drawn from U.S. Treasury tax records linked to federal financial aid applicants. Institutional characteristics come from IPEDS. Debt figures represent the median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation.
Debt-to-earnings ratio compares cumulative debt to annual earnings. A ratio below 1.0 indicates that annual earnings exceed total debt, generally considered favorable. Estimated monthly payments assume a standard 10-year repayment plan.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.