by our College Data Analytics Team
[International Studies](/majors/multi-interdisciplinary-studies/international-studies/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. A top-earning program sends graduates into careers with strong starting pay.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 5 schools on the early-career earnings of their international studies graduates.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose international studies graduates go on to earn the most.
Leading the list is Bentley University, our #1 for international studies graduate salaries in Massachusetts. Set in the city of Waltham, Bentley University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the international studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $75,006.
Students chasing top earnings in international studies will find them at Boston College, which ranked #2. Boston College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chestnut Hill. Early-career international studies graduates from Boston College make a median of around $81,227 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at Brandeis University earned it the #3 place for international studies. Set in the city of Waltham, Brandeis University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the international studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $69,903.
Students chasing top earnings in international studies will find them at College Of The Holy Cross, which ranked #4. College Of The Holy Cross is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Worcester. Students who complete the international studies program here go on to a median salary of roughly $46,530.
Strong graduate earnings at Emmanuel College Massachusetts earned it the #5 place for international studies. Emmanuel College Massachusetts is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Boston. Early-career international studies graduates from Emmanuel College Massachusetts make a median of around $29,688 per year.
The ranking above is published by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries international studies graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 5 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.