by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 23 U.S. colleges awarded 1,996 degrees and certificates in General Intelligence. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best General Intelligence Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,824 one year after completing, rising to $88,234 after four years.
A major in General Intelligence covers Intelligence, General. A Program That Focuses On The Principles And Techniques Of Intelligence Acquisition, Analysis And Exploitation. Includes Instruction In Intelligence Organizations, The Intelligence Cycle, Intelligence Operations Planning, Intelligence Analysis And Reporting, Intelligence Methods, Electronic And Signals Intelligence, Operations And Communications Security, Human Intelligence Management, Intelligence Chain Of Command, Information Exploitation And Psychological Warfare, And The Relationship To National Security Policy And Strategy.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, general intelligence is a widely-pursued major, with 1,996 degrees awarded annually. 23 colleges award general intelligence degrees, an average of 87 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 678.
By level, the 1,996 awards include 667 associate degrees, 846 bachelor’s degrees and 483 master’s degrees.
Women earned 28% of general intelligence degrees and certificates in the latest year (552 of 1,996). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (1,186) and Hispanic or Latino (309), and international students earned 22.
College Factual ranks 12 schools in its 2027 Best General Intelligence Schools ranking, including 2 for associate degrees, 7 for bachelor’s degrees and 6 for master’s degrees. It also ranks general intelligence schools within 5 states. In all, 23 colleges offer general intelligence programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Intelligence Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
How long a general intelligence degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 667 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 846 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 483 |
2 occupations are related to General Intelligence, with an average median salary of $65,362; the strongest outlook belongs to Special Forces Officers, at 5.1% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Reconnaissance Man, Parachute and Combatant Diver Qualified, Survival Specialist, Special Forces Weapons Sergeant and Pararescue Craftsman.
The occupation related to general intelligence with the most projected jobs is Special Forces, at 40,649.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Special Forces | 40,649 | 4.1% |
| Special Forces Officers | 31,860 | 5.1% |
General Intelligence graduates earn a median $63,824 one year after completing their program, $88,234 after four years and $74,598 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,824 |
| 4 years | $88,234 |
| 5 years | $74,598 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The same occupation is also the highest-paying one related to general intelligence, with a median salary of $73,745.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Special Forces Officers | $73,745 |
| Special Forces | $56,978 |
General Intelligence has 5 similar majors in the Military Technologies & Sciences field, which together award 2,015 degrees a year; the largest are Cyber/Electronic Operations and Warfare (1,594), Strategic Intelligence (304) and Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations, Other (75). Browse all Military Technologies & Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
