Bachelor's · University Park, Pennsylvania

Is International Relations and National Security Studies at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus worth it?

High confidence High confidence: 100+ graduates behind the earnings figures.

The verdict · all families, in-state, half paid with loans

Pays back in time: graduates typically recover the cost in about 3.2 years.

Earnings 1 year after graduating: $50,826; Treasury AY2020-21, AY2021-22 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Earnings 4 years after graduating: $76,264; Treasury AY2017-2018, AY2018-2019 pooled earnings cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
Typical federal debt at graduation: $21,500; NSLDS pooled AY2022-23, AY2023-24 cohort
Net cost to graduate, all families: $54k (likely $54k – $73k); AcadYr 2024-25, reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Earnings bump, year 4: $37k a year vs high-school graduates aged 25–34 in PA; 2023 ACS 5-year pooled, adjusted to 2024 dollars
Payback: 3.2 years (likely 2.7–3.9); Bump vs net cost plus loan interest
10-year net return: $110k (likely $31k – $181k); Today's dollars
20-year net return: $561k (likely $403k – $737k); Today's dollars
Odds of finishing (school-wide): 51%; Fall 2019 or AcadYr 2019-20 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2025-26
Borrowers making progress / in default, 2 years in: not reported / ≤ 10%; NSLDS AY2016-17, AY2017-18 pooled cohorts measured in 2018-19, 2019-20

Change income, residency or loans Compare International Relations and National Security Studies at other schools

⚖️ Getting ready in high school

Students heading toward law, government & society majors like this one often take these classes. Every school offers a different mix, so check with your counselor.

AP classes

AP U.S. Government and Politics
AP U.S. History
AP English Language and Composition
AP Comparative Government and Politics

IB Higher Level

History HL
Global Politics HL

Build my roadmap 🗺️ Middle school to career, plus high schools near you that offer these classes.

Other majors at Pennsylvania State University-World Campus

Computer and Information Sciences, General (Master's)$166,387
Information Science/Studies (Master's)$158,815
Physics (Master's)$150,865
Systems Engineering (Master's)$145,507
Computer Engineering (Master's)$140,393
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Master's)$139,676
Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations (Master's)$138,103
Computational Science (Master's)$137,367
Statistics (Master's)$129,392
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's)$127,665
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's)$120,729
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management (Master's)$119,536

International Relations and National Security Studies at other schools in Pennsylvania

Bucknell University$90,393
University of Pennsylvania$87,439
Lehigh University$79,569
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley$71,001
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Berks$71,001
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus$71,001
Duquesne University$65,169
Dickinson College$62,570
Lafayette College$46,226
Susquehanna University$44,784