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Major · Social Sciences

States, diplomats, and the rules governing how countries deal with each other

International Relations and Affairs examines how states, international organizations, and non-state actors interact across borders — through diplomacy, conflict, trade, and law. About 6,344 degrees are awarded annually at 363 colleges. Bachelor's completers report a five-year median of roughly $66,585, though most higher-ceiling roles require graduate credentials.

Schools offering
363
Annual completions
6,344
Typical degree level
Associate's + Bachelor's
Median earnings (5yr)
$67k

About this major

International Relations and Affairs is defined by a specific question: how do states and other actors in the international system interact, and what rules — formal and informal — govern those interactions? Coursework covers the theory and practice of diplomacy and foreign policy, international law and organizations (the UN, WTO, regional bodies), and comparative analysis of specific countries and regions. Students engage with the major traditions in IR theory — realism, liberalism, constructivism — and apply them to historical and contemporary cases. Research methods are built into most programs; the field demands students who can produce and evaluate evidence about complex international phenomena, not just describe them.

The major overlaps substantially with Political Science but maintains a distinct focus. Where political science covers the full range of political institutions — domestic parties, legislatures, courts, electoral behavior — international relations orients the curriculum outward, toward the conduct of foreign policy, the functioning of multilateral institutions, and the dynamics of interstate conflict and cooperation. The named examples in the CIP classification include combinations with economics, history, and political science, which reflects how many programs treat IR as an interdisciplinary field rather than a standalone social science.

This is a medium-sized major: 6,344 total completions per year across 363 colleges, considerably smaller than Political Science General's 36,654. The school-level concentration is striking — George Washington University (398 completions), American University (386), and Georgetown University (289) together account for a disproportionate share of graduates, all in Washington, DC. That geographic clustering is not accidental. The DC ecosystem — federal agencies, think tanks, international NGOs, and a dense contractor sector — represents the primary professional destination for IR graduates, and the programs closest to it have built the strongest pipelines.

Section 3 · Careers

Where this major leads

Occupations most often associated with this major, from the federal BLS+O*NET crosswalk. Job-growth projections and median wages are national.

Occupation Median wage Job growth Typical education
Managers, all other $137k +4.5% Bachelor's degree
Political science teachers, postsecondary $95k +2.0% Doctoral or professional degree
Political scientists $139k -3.1% Master's degree
Section 4 · Earnings

Earnings at a glance

Median graduate earnings from the federal College Scorecard, 5 and 10 years out.

Median 5-year earnings

$67k

Who this major is for

You may thrive here if you are drawn to understanding how countries interact — not just in theory but in the specific texture of diplomatic negotiations, treaty enforcement, and the foreign-policy decisions made under uncertainty. You may also fit well if you are comfortable working with both quantitative and qualitative evidence, since IR research spans statistical conflict datasets and close reading of primary diplomatic sources. The earnings data carries a practical signal worth acknowledging: with a five-year bachelor's median of $66,585 and the higher-ceiling occupations (political scientist at $139,380, postsecondary teaching at $94,680) requiring graduate credentials, this degree works best as a foundation rather than a terminal credential. Students who intend to stop at the bachelor's and enter a specific IR career should map out that path before committing.

Think twice if you expect the degree to open a clear, well-defined occupational lane immediately after graduation — it does not. Political scientist as a formal title is declining (-3.1% projected growth) and is a small, competitive field requiring a master's. Think twice also if your interest in international affairs is broad but you have no specific regional focus or language investment: IR programs reward students who go deep on a particular region or language, and graduates who arrive in the job market without that differentiation often find themselves competing against political science generalists for the same analytical roles. If your primary interest is in how domestic policy is made and implemented, Public Policy Analysis or Political Science General offers a more direct path.

Section 6 · Where to study

Top colleges for International Relations and Affairs

Ranked by annual completions at the associate's or bachelor's level — a proxy for program scale.

College Location Assoc. Bach. Total
George Washington University Washington, DC 0 398 398
American University Washington, DC 0 386 386
Georgetown University Washington, DC 0 289 289
Florida State University Tallahassee, FL 0 237 237
Florida International University Miami, FL 0 188 188
University of Georgia Athens, GA 0 179 179
Boston University Boston, MA 0 142 142
University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 0 124 124
George Mason University Fairfax, VA 0 120 120
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, VA 0 116 116
Section 7 · Explore sideways

Related majors to explore

Political Science and Government, General

36,654 completions/yr

Public Policy Analysis, General

1,905 completions/yr

Political Science and Government, Other

769 completions/yr

Political Economy

231 completions/yr

National Security Policy Studies

210 completions/yr

American Government and Politics (United States)

168 completions/yr

Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

145 completions/yr

International Relations and National Security Studies, Other

76 completions/yr

Considering this direction?

We've taken a hard look at the debt, earnings trajectory, and degree-level tradeoffs for the International Relations and Affairs field. Read our verdict before you commit.

Is International Relations and Affairs worth it? Read verdict
Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

What do International Relations majors actually study day-to-day?
The core of the major is international politics — how states behave, how institutions like the UN and WTO function, and how foreign policy gets made. Coursework typically includes international relations theory (realism, liberalism, constructivism), comparative foreign policy, international law and organization, and regional concentrations on areas like East Asia, the Middle East, or Latin America. Research methods — both qualitative and quantitative — run through most programs. The CIP definition specifically names diplomacy and the conduct of foreign policy as central topics, so students often encounter case studies of specific negotiations, treaties, and conflicts alongside the theory.
Do I need a bachelor's, or is an associate's enough for International Relations?
An associate's is not a practical credential in this field — it functions almost exclusively as a transfer pathway to a four-year program. The earnings data confirms this: bachelor's completers report a five-year median of roughly $66,585, while the associate's earnings split shows no comparable figure because so few associate's completers stay in this field without continuing. The occupations most aligned with IR work — political scientist ($139,380 median), postsecondary teaching ($94,680) — require master's or doctoral degrees. The bachelor's is the minimum realistic credential, and for most of the meaningful career paths here, a graduate degree is the next step.
What kinds of jobs do International Relations graduates end up in?
The formal occupations tracked in the data are political scientists ($139,380 median, master's required, -3.1% projected growth), postsecondary political science teachers ($94,680, doctoral required), and managers in the broad "all other" category ($136,550, 4.5% projected growth). In practice, bachelor's graduates enter government agencies, federal contracting, think tanks, nonprofits with international programs, and private-sector roles in consulting, finance, and tech that value policy-oriented analytical skills. The DC cluster is notable — five of the top ten producing schools are in the DC-Maryland-Virginia region, pointing toward the federal government and its contractor ecosystem as primary employers.
How competitive is the job market for International Relations graduates?
Selective to difficult for IR-specific roles. Political scientist as a formal occupation is declining (-3.1% projected) and is a small, competitive field that requires a master's. Postsecondary teaching requires a doctorate. The broader management category shows 4.5% projected growth, which is near average — but those positions are not awarded to new graduates on the basis of a credential; they're reached through years of experience. With 6,344 completions per year across 363 colleges, International Relations is a much smaller field than Political Science General (36,654 completions), which gives it some differentiation. Geographic concentration matters: proximity to Washington, DC is a meaningful hiring signal in this field.
Should I choose International Relations or Political Science?
The choice is mostly about depth of focus. Political Science General (36,654 completions per year across 1,259 colleges) is broader — it covers domestic politics, political theory, and comparative government alongside international topics, and it's a more flexible platform for law school or general government work. International Relations (6,344 completions, 363 colleges) is deliberately narrower: it foregrounds diplomatic practice, foreign policy, international law, and specific regional expertise. Five-year median earnings are modestly higher for IR ($66,585 versus $63,028 for political science). If you have a specific interest in how countries interact — rather than how domestic political systems function — IR is the more targeted choice. Related majors worth considering are Public Policy Analysis (1,905 completions) for applied government work and National Security Policy Studies (210 completions) for defense-adjacent careers.
What's a realistic earnings picture after an International Relations degree?
Bachelor's completers report a five-year median of roughly $66,585 — modestly above the social sciences average and slightly above Political Science General's $63,028. The spread across occupations is wide: the managers category shows $136,550, but that's a destination reached through experience. Political scientist is $139,380 but requires a master's and is a declining occupation. Postsecondary teaching is $94,680 but requires a doctorate. For most bachelor's graduates, the realistic five-year range sits in the $55,000–$75,000 band depending on sector — federal employment and international consulting tend to be at the higher end, nonprofits and entry government roles at the lower end. A master's in IR, an MPA, or a JD changes the picture significantly.