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International Relations and National Security Studies bachelor's degree outcomes at American University

Name: International Relations and National Security Studies Bachelor's Degree outcomes at American University
Creator: U.S. Department of Education

Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · Federal field 4509

Data scope

Federal records group outcomes by college, four-digit field and credential level. A record may cover several catalog programs or concentrations.

The short version

Reported earnings are notably above the same-degree benchmark.

$7,269 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Debt pressure: 31.5% of annual earnings
Positive-payoff price ceiling: $27,163 / year
10-year scenario: −17% · Negative payoff
Price evidence: College-wide context only

PRICE SENSITIVITY

The price can change the verdict.

Hold observed earnings constant and see how the modeled ten-year payoff changes as annual price rises.

← Negative payoff$0Positive payoff →

$0Annual price+$108,650

$12,000Annual price+$60,650

$24,000Annual price+$12,650

$36,000Annual price−$35,350

$42,000Current college-wide context−$59,350

$48,000Annual price−$83,350

$60,000Annual price−$131,350

OUTCOME SIGNALS

Graduate outcomes from several angles.

Follow earnings over time and inspect the cohort behind each federal measure.

+49%Earnings growth, year 1 → 5$47,551 → $71,028

321Earn above high-school thresholdGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

121Working in the college’s stateGraduate count in the year-4 cohort

374Year-5 earnings observationsCohort behind the year-5 median

504Borrowers representedCohort behind the debt median

$53,146Awarding-school debtDebt attributed to the college granting the credential

12Recent awardsIPEDS 2023–24 first-major completions in this field and credential

NEW FEDERAL PROGRAM CONTEXT

Size, aid and an earnings floor.

The Department of Education’s 2026 informational preview adds current program participation and a preliminary earnings comparison. It does not make a final eligibility determination.

926Students receiving federal aid2024–25 Title IV enrollment

207Federal-aid completers2024–25 program completers

259Pell Grant recipients2024–25 program count

689Federal loan borrowers2024–25 unduplicated count

Preliminary federal earnings benchmark$34,808Informational preview, not a final accountability result

Observed year-4 earnings$73,865$39,057 above the preliminary benchmark

Additional borrowing reported for this category: 175 Parent PLUS borrowers.

Source: U.S. Department of Education PPD:2026 informational preview. Program categories use OPEID, four-digit field and credential level; federal-aid counts do not represent every enrolled student.

01 · PRICE CONTEXT$41,943

Institution-wide annual average net price, not this program’s price.

02 · BORROWING$23,250

Median federal debt across schools attended at this academic level.

03 · EARNINGS$73,865

Observed median earnings four full years after completion.

04 · REPAYMENT$246/mo

Estimated standard 10-year federal payment.

WHAT WILL IT COST?

Published college costs provide the starting point.

Your exact offering, aid, residency and time to finish determine the price you actually pay.

Enter my price →

AVERAGE NET PRICE$41,943Institution-wide annual figure

COST OF ATTENDANCE$76,058Institution-wide annual budget

ADMISSION RATE62.0%Institution context

COMPLETION RATE75.5%Institution-wide completion rate

WHAT DO GRADUATES EARN?

Reported earnings after completion.

Each point may represent a different federal cohort. A missing bar means the figure was unavailable or suppressed.

$47,551Year 1

$73,865Year 4

$71,028Year 5

CAN THE EARNINGS SUPPORT THE DEBT?

4.0% of gross monthly earnings

Estimated monthly payment divided by observed gross monthly earnings. This excludes taxes, other debts and income-driven repayment.

Gross monthly earnings$6,155

Estimated loan payment$246

504borrowers represented where reported

HOW DOES IT COMPARE?

$73,865 vs. $66,596

$7,269 above the national median for the same field and credential.

Same-field national median

WHAT WORK CAN IT LEAD TO?

Related occupations, wages and outlook.

Official CIP–SOC links show careers the curriculum may prepare students for, not observed jobs held by this school’s graduates. BLS wages describe everyone working in an occupation.

BLS May 2025 wage estimates and 2025–35 employment projections.

Managers, All Other$175,720 median wageDC estimate · 18,570 jobs · 11-9199+4.9% projected U.S. growth · 100.9k openings/yrTypical entry: Bachelor's degreePolitical Scientists$152,530 median wageDC estimate · 3,070 jobs · 19-3094-2.0% projected U.S. growth · 0.4k openings/yrTypical entry: Master's degreePolitical Science Teachers, Postsecondary$102,310 median wageDC estimate · 1,120 jobs · 25-1065+2.5% projected U.S. growth · 1.5k openings/yrTypical entry: Doctoral or professional degree

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