International Relations at George Washington University

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · International Relations and National Security Studies
50 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
51
Optimistic
50
Base Case
46
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,933/yr (34% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (108,800 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #27 of 106 International Relations programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to International Relations graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $737K $711K $632K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.7x 2.4x
Probability of Field Employment 53% 48% 37%
DegreeOutlook Score 51 50 46

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$259,960
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$149,816
42% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,958
4.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$84,705
60% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $52,933 put George Washington University's International Relations program 34% above the national median of $39,530 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $52,933 far exceeding the $20,958 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #27 out of 106 programs, George Washington University's International Relations program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $52,933 to $84,705 over five years (60% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About George Washington University

A 44% admission rate makes George Washington University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, serving 10,848 students in Washington, DC. After financial aid, the average student pays $149,816 over four years — 42% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at George Washington University →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
Political science teachers, postsecondary $94,680/yr
View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

International Relations at Other Schools

Other Majors at George Washington University

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does George Washington University's International Relations program score?
This program scores 50/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for International Relations graduates.
How vulnerable is International Relations to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' International Relations careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Why does George Washington University rank so high for International Relations?
The #27 ranking out of 106 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →