by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 27 U.S. colleges awarded 638 degrees and certificates in Other International Relations & National Security Studies. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 78% of graduates. College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $51,873 one year after completing, rising to $79,106 after four years.
Studying Other International Relations & National Security Studies involves the study of International Relations And National Security Studies, Other. Any Instructional Program In International Relations And National Security Studies Not Listed Above.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, other international relations & national security studies is a popular field of study, with 638 degrees awarded annually. 27 colleges award other international relations & national security studies degrees, an average of 24 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 173.
By level, the 638 awards include 125 bachelor’s degrees, 497 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 36% of other international relations & national security studies degrees and certificates in the latest year (229 of 638). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (379) and Hispanic or Latino (91), and international students earned 37.
College Factual ranks 10 schools in its 2027 Best Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools ranking, including 5 for bachelor’s degrees and 7 for master’s degrees. It also ranks other international relations & national security studies schools within 5 states. In all, 27 colleges offer other international relations & national security studies programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Other International Relations & National Security Studies Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common other international relations & national security studies credential is the master’s degree: 497 of the 638 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to other international relations & national security studies call most for Speaking, Reading Comprehension and Active Listening, and for knowledge of English Language, Law and Government and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an other international relations & national security studies degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 125 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 497 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Doctoral degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to other international relations & national security studies, at 58.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.8% |
| Master’s degree | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
9 occupations are related to Other International Relations & National Security Studies, with an average median salary of $109,583; the strongest outlook belongs to Compliance Managers, at 13.0% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Adjunct Political Science Professor, Political Science Adjunct Instructor, Lecturer and Adjunct Professor.
The occupation related to other international relations & national security studies with the most projected jobs is Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 1,638,816.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Other International Relations & National Security Studies graduates earn a median $51,873 one year after completing their program, $79,106 after four years and $78,223 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $51,873 |
| 4 years | $79,106 |
| 5 years | $78,223 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to other international relations & national security studies is Wind Energy Development Managers, with a median salary of $169,952.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
Other International Relations & National Security Studies has 2 similar majors in the Social Sciences field, which together award 12,142 degrees a year; the largest are International Relations and Affairs (11,301) and National Security Policy Studies (841). Browse all Social Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| International Relations and Affairs | 11,301 |
| National Security Policy Studies | 841 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
