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International Relations at Virginia Military Institute

Lexington, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · International Relations and National Security Studies

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $44,429/yr (12% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (108,800 openings/yr)

ROI 8.5x earnings multiple (3.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #12 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	$723K	$698K	$622K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	8.8x	8.5x	7.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.5x	3.4x	3.0x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	48%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	55	52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$81,936

Out-of-state: $204,744 (3.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$75,396

8% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,875

5.9 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$79,025

78% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,429 at Virginia Military Institute come in 12% above the national median of $39,530 for International Relations programs.

At 8.5x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

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 $44,429 far exceeding the $21,875 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #12 out of 106 programs, Virginia Military Institute's International Relations program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $44,429 to $79,025 over five years (78% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Virginia Military Institute

Virginia Military Institute accepts 82% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,560 in Lexington, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at Virginia Military Institute →

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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Virginia Military Institute's International Relations program score?

This program scores 55/100, 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 Virginia Military Institute rank so high for International Relations?

The #12 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 →