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.
To produce this 2026 ranking, College Factual evaluated 8 schools on the early-career earnings of their international relations national security graduates.
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If you want to know which schools send international relations national security graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Dickinson College tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools in Pennsylvania. Dickinson College is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Carlisle. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $87,169.
Bucknell University came in at #2 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Bucknell University is a private not-for-profit school located in the town of Lewisburg. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Bucknell University make a median of around $77,668 per year.
University Of Pennsylvania produces some of the highest-paid graduates in international relations national security, landing the #3 spot this year. University Of Pennsylvania is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Philadelphia. Early-career international relations national security graduates from University Of Pennsylvania make a median of around $92,024 per year.
Students chasing top earnings in international relations national security will find them at Lafayette College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Easton, Lafayette College is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Lafayette College make a median of around $89,758 per year.
A rank of #5 makes Lehigh University one of the highest-paying schools for international relations national security. Located in the city of Bethlehem, Lehigh University is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Lehigh University earn a median of about $80,384 a year early in their careers.
Duquesne University ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the city of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $72,396.
Saint Josephs University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the city of Philadelphia, Saint Josephs University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $52,111.
Allegheny College ranked #8 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the town of Meadville, Allegheny College is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Allegheny College earn a median of about $24,303 a year early in their careers.
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries international relations national security 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 · 8 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.