by our College Data Analytics Team
[International Relations National Security](/majors/social-sciences/international-relations-national-security/) graduates earn very different salaries depending on where they study. The highest-paying schools turn a international relations national security degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
College Factual analyzed 4 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying international relations national security schools.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose international relations national security graduates go on to earn the most.
Georgetown University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools in District of Columbia. Set in the city of Washington, Georgetown University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Georgetown University make a median of around $102,159 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in international relations national security will find them at Institute Of World Politics, which ranked #2. Set in the city of Washington, Institute Of World Politics is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Institute Of World Politics earn a median of about $101,277 a year early in their careers.
A rank of #3 makes George Washington University one of the highest-paying schools for international relations national security. George Washington University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Washington. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from George Washington University typically earn about $95,466 annually.
American University came in at #4 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the city of Washington, American University is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of American University earn a median of about $86,176 a year early in their careers.
This ranking is produced 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.