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 32 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.
University Of Virginia Main Campus earned the #1 spot for highest-paid international relations national security graduates in the Southeast Region. Set in the suburb of Charlottesville, University Of Virginia Main Campus is a public institution. International Relations National Security graduates of University Of Virginia Main Campus earn a median of about $87,416 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in international relations national security will find them at College Of William And Mary, which ranked #2. College Of William And Mary is a public school located in the suburb of Williamsburg. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $81,921.
Emory University came in at #3 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the city of Atlanta, Emory University is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from Emory University typically earn about $80,251 annually.
A rank of #4 makes Virginia Military Institute one of the highest-paying schools for international relations national security. Virginia Military Institute is a public school located in the town of Lexington. International Relations National Security graduates of Virginia Military Institute earn a median of about $79,025 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in international relations national security will find them at George Mason University, which ranked #5. Set in the suburb of Fairfax, George Mason University is a public institution. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $84,118.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University placed #6 among the highest-paying schools for international relations national security. Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public school located in the city of Blacksburg. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University typically earn about $74,206 annually.
Troy University landed the #7 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Located in the town of Troy, Troy University is a public institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Troy University earn a median of about $79,581 a year early in their careers.
Tulane University Of Louisiana came in at #8 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Tulane University Of Louisiana is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of New Orleans. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Tulane University Of Louisiana make a median of around $64,455 per year.
James Madison University came in at #9 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Harrisonburg, James Madison University is a public institution. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $66,783.
University Of Georgia earned the #10 position for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Athens, University Of Georgia is a public institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from University Of Georgia make a median of around $67,971 per year.
University Of North Georgia landed the #11 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Set in the town of Dahlonega, University Of North Georgia is a public institution. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $61,391.
University Of Miami came in at #12 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Coral Gables, University Of Miami is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of University Of Miami earn a median of about $76,506 a year early in their careers.
The University Of West Florida came in at #13 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Set in the rural area of Pensacola, The University Of West Florida is a public institution. International Relations National Security graduates of The University Of West Florida earn a median of about $46,347 a year early in their careers.
The University Of Alabama landed the #14 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Located in the city of Tuscaloosa, The University Of Alabama is a public institution. International Relations National Security graduates of The University Of Alabama earn a median of about $58,536 a year early in their careers.
Wofford College came in at #15 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Spartanburg, Wofford College 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 $43,428.
University Of Kentucky came in at #16 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. University Of Kentucky is a public school located in the city of Lexington. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from University Of Kentucky typically earn about $91,588 annually.
Florida State University placed #17 among the highest-paying schools for international relations national security. Florida State University is a public school located in the city of Tallahassee. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Florida State University make a median of around $59,868 per year.
Kennesaw State University landed the #18 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Kennesaw, Kennesaw State University is a public institution. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from Kennesaw State University typically earn about $55,715 annually.
Rollins College ranked #19 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. Located in the suburb of Winter Park, Rollins College is a private not-for-profit institution. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from Rollins College typically earn about $64,642 annually.
University Of South Carolina Columbia came in at #20 for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Columbia, University Of South Carolina Columbia is a public institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from University Of South Carolina Columbia make a median of around $55,763 per year.
University Of Mary Washington earned the #21 position for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Fredericksburg, University Of Mary Washington is a public institution. After graduating, international relations national security degree recipients from University Of Mary Washington typically earn about $56,845 annually.
Florida International University landed the #22 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Florida International University is a public school located in the suburb of Miami. Students who complete the international relations national security program here go on to a median salary of roughly $51,904.
University Of South Florida Main Campus ranked #23 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying international relations national security schools. University Of South Florida Main Campus is a public school located in the city of Tampa. Early-career international relations national security graduates from University Of South Florida Main Campus make a median of around $55,427 per year.
Rhodes College earned the #24 position for international relations national security graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Memphis, Rhodes College is a private not-for-profit institution. International Relations National Security graduates of Rhodes College earn a median of about $64,958 a year early in their careers.
Liberty University landed the #25 spot for international relations national security salaries this year. Set in the city of Lynchburg, Liberty University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career international relations national security graduates from Liberty University make a median of around $65,865 per year.
These schools also send international relations national security graduates into strong-paying careers this year:
The ranking above is published 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 · 32 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.