U.S. median for this major: $66,308.
College Scorecard field of study; 28 graduates with earnings reported. A small group, so treat this figure with caution
Median for graduates who received federal aid.
College Scorecard field of study
About 26% of median earnings 4 years out. U.S. median $21,977.
College Scorecard field of study (federal loans)
Average after grants for all families receiving federal aid. Pick your income above.
Sticker price $91,250. College Scorecard.
Northwestern University International Relations: pay against the field, and payback
Same major, other colleges
Median earnings 4 years after graduating; state and U.S. figures are the median of each covered college's graduates in this major. College Scorecard; calculated by EducationGuide.
International Relations nationally: jobs, pay at ages 25-34, every state →
Cost to finish and years to pay back, by income
Uses Northwestern University's school-wide net price (no college reports it by major) and this major's graduate earnings.
| Family income | Net price / yr | Cost to finish | Years to pay back |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0–30k | $1,764 | $7,232 | under 1 year |
| $30–48k | $6,099 | $25,006 | under 1 year |
| $48–75k | $7,898 | $32,382 | under 1 year |
| $75–110k | $18,282 | $74,956 | 1.9 years |
| $110k+ | $48,777 | $199,986 | 5.2 years |
Cost to finish = yearly price × 4.1 years, the average time graduates took (88% finished in 4 years; students who entered fall 2017, IPEDS). Years to pay back = cost to finish ÷ the earnings gain: median earnings of International Relations graduates 4 years after graduating ($74,477) minus $35,797 for high school graduates ages 25-34 in IL (Census ACS 2020-2024), a gain of $38,680 a year. Before taxes, loan interest and earnings given up while in school. Method
College Scorecard; IPEDS Graduation Rates; U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Calculated by EducationGuide.
International Relations at Illinois colleges
Every Illinois college we cover that reports International Relations graduate earnings, highest first. Net price is the school-wide average after grants.
| Rank | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt | Avg. net price | Graduation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwestern University | $74,477 | $19,234 | $29,167 | 95% |
| 2 | DePaul University | $68,180 | $21,250 | $30,902 | 68% |
| 3 | Wheaton College | $65,230 | $23,875 | $26,975 | 85% |
| 4 | Loyola University Chicago | $58,511 | $21,500 | $36,079 | 73% |
13 more Illinois colleges offer International Relations but have too few graduates to report earnings.
What families pay at Northwestern University, by income
School-wide average after grants for students receiving federal aid. Tap your band.
College Scorecard
About Northwestern University
- Acceptance rate: 8% · admissions
- Graduation rate: 95% within 6 years
- Median earnings, all majors, 10 years after starting: $89,363
- Full cost breakdown · all 85 majors · overview
Related majors at Northwestern University
- Political Science$73,231
- Sociology$75,267
- Economics$126,006
- Anthropology—
- Social Sciences—
- Geography—
Northwestern University International Relations questions
How much do Northwestern University International Relations graduates earn?
International Relations graduates of Northwestern University earn a median $74,477 four years after graduating and $58,326 one year after. The U.S. median for International Relations graduates across 116 colleges is $66,308.
How much debt do Northwestern University International Relations graduates have?
The median federal loan debt for International Relations graduates of Northwestern University is $19,234, about 26% of their median earnings four years out. Nationally the median is $21,977.
Is Northwestern University a good school for International Relations in Illinois?
On pay, International Relations graduates of Northwestern University earn $74,477 four years out, $7,772 above the median for the same major across 4 Illinois colleges ($66,705) and $8,169 above the U.S. median ($66,308). Medians of each college's graduates; EducationGuide calculation from College Scorecard.
Where does Northwestern University rank for International Relations in Illinois?
Of 4 Illinois colleges reporting International Relations graduate earnings, Northwestern University ranks 1st, the highest.
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Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (field of study: median earnings and federal loan debt of graduates who received federal aid); BLS. How we score
Data: JSON · Markdown · all datasets
Cite this: “Northwestern University International Relations: earnings, debt and careers,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/colleges/northwestern-university/majors/international-relations (College Scorecard and BLS data).