by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Other International Relations & National Security Studies involves the study of International Relations And National Security Studies, Other. Any Instructional Program In International Relations And National Security Studies Not Listed Above. Continue reading for the key facts every other international relations & national security studies student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering other international relations & national security studies programs.
Across the country, other international relations & national security studies is a popular field of study, with 563 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Other International Relations & National Security Studies Schools ranking analyzes these 24 schools to determine the best overall colleges for other international relations & national security studies students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other international relations & national security studies programs later in this article.
Coursework for Other International Relations & National Security Studies emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations other international relations & national security studies graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a other international relations & national security studies program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a other international relations & national security studies major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several other international relations & national security studies degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 83 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 474 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 6 |
People currently working in careers related to other international relations & national security studies tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 58.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.8% |
| Master’s degree | 5.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.9% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.9% |
| Some college courses | 1.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.2% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in other international relations & national security studies careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in other international relations & national security studies can lead to many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to other international relations & national security studies.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other international relations & national security studies.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,638,816 | 11.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Compliance Managers | 310,203 | 13.0% |
| Loss Prevention Managers | 265,210 | 2.2% |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | 206,415 | 9.9% |
| Political Scientists | 202,741 | 5.4% |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | 128,884 | 5.2% |
| Wind Energy Development Managers | 107,541 | 10.1% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of other international relations & national security studies graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $52,048 |
| 4 years | $67,113 |
| 5 years | $78,479 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for other international relations & national security studies graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers other international relations & national security studies grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Wind Energy Development Managers | $169,952 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Wind Energy Operations Managers | $122,567 |
| Compliance Managers | $117,178 |
| Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers | $99,321 |
| Managers, All Other | $95,684 |
| Regulatory Affairs Managers | $77,828 |
| Political Scientists | $71,521 |
With 24 different other international relations & national security studies programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased other international relations & national security studies school rankings to help you.
Those considering other international relations & national security studies, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| International Relations and Affairs | 11,684 |
| National Security Policy Studies | 788 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
