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Social Sciences · International Relations Rank #106 of 106

International Relationsat Allegheny College

Graduates earn $24,303/yr in their first year — about 39.0% below the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $391K; scenarios range from $386K to $378K depending on AI disruption.

Meadville, PA Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
21 AT RISK
22
Optimistic
22
Pessimistic
Earnings
$24,303
1-year post-graduation
ROI
0.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$391K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Allegheny College

The data suggests that an International Relations and National Security Studies degree from Allegheny College presents a challenging path to high early-career earnings. Located in Meadville, PA, the program isn't situated near major government or international organizational hubs, meaning graduates typically face relocation for relevant opportunities, adding an extra hurdle to initial job searches. While you'll gain a strong liberal arts foundation, the program may not offer the direct professional pipelines or specialized, in-demand skills training often found in larger, more pre-professional university settings. Many initial roles in this field, particularly in non-profits or advocacy, start with lower compensation, which can be further exacerbated by the theoretical focus. To succeed, you'll need to proactively build a highly specialized skillset, secure multiple internships, and aggressively network throughout your studies to differentiate yourself in a competitive market.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$386K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$391K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score21/100
Earnings Multiple1.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$378K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score22/100
Earnings Multiple1.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Allegheny College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where International Relations graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Political scientists
-3.1% 10-yr growth · 500 openings/yr
$139,380/yr
Moderate
2
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
Political science teachers, postsecondary
+2.0% 10-yr growth · 1,600 openings/yr
$94,680/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering International Relations

How Allegheny College stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Bucknell University
PA · Private nonprofit
52
DW Score
$77K
1-yr earn
2.0x
ROI
Top score
Stanford University
CA · Private nonprofit
63
DW Score
$76K
1-yr earn
4.1x
ROI
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
CA · Private nonprofit
50
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
Middlebury College
VT · Private nonprofit
60
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
3.4x
ROI
Same state (PA)
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$66K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Also at Allegheny College

Other top programs at Allegheny College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Allegheny College, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in International Relations offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare International Relations trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about International Relations at Allegheny College

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for International Relations at Allegheny College?

A score of 21/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for International Relations. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is International Relations at Allegheny College worth the student debt?

Median debt of $27,000 against $24,303/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

Will AI replace International Relations careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $385,763 in decade earnings vs $378,286 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with International Relations from Allegheny College?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

Is Allegheny College a hidden gem for International Relations?

After financial aid, the average student pays $87,600 over four years — 60% below the $219,840 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.