by our College Data Analytics Team
[International Relations National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their international relations national security graduates go on to command.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 4 schools to find where international relations national security graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose international relations national security graduates go on to earn the most.
For graduate earnings in international relations national security, no school beat Oakland University this year. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. International Relations National Security graduates of Oakland University earn a median of about $59,428 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Michigan State University earned it the #2 place for international relations national security. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Michigan State University make a median of around $75,882 per year.
Central Michigan University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in international relations national security, landing the #3 spot this year. Central Michigan University is a public school located in the town of Mount Pleasant. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Central Michigan University make a median of around $59,452 per year.
Grand Valley State University produces some of the highest-paid graduates in international relations national security, landing the #4 spot this year. Located in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of about $39,625 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their international relations national security graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 4 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.