International Relationsat Eckerd College
Graduates earn $26,526/yr in their first year — about 33.0% below the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $403K; scenarios range from $395K to $392K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Eckerd College
Eckerd's International Relations and National Security Studies program, while offering a strong liberal arts foundation, places graduates in a challenging market. Unlike programs in major policy hubs, your location in St. Petersburg means local entry-level opportunities in national security or international development are limited, requiring significant initiative to find relevant roles. The field itself often demands advanced degrees—a Master's or even a Ph.D.—for the high-level analytical and leadership positions typically associated with "political scientists" or "managers." Without those specialized credentials or extensive, targeted internships, you'll likely start in broader administrative, research, or non-profit coordination roles that don't reflect the high earning potential of the most specialized careers. If this remains your passion, you must actively pursue multiple internships and plan for graduate school early to compete for top-tier government, NGO, or think tank positions.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Eckerd College's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering International Relations
How Eckerd College stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Eckerd College
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Eckerd 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 →Frequently asked about International Relations at Eckerd College
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for International Relations at Eckerd College?
A score of 22/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for International Relations. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $395,098 in decade earnings vs $391,909 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with International Relations from Eckerd 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.