International Relationsat Emory University
Graduates earn $45,022/yr in their first year — about 14.0% above the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $705K; scenarios range from $628K to $731K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Emory University
Emory's International Relations and National Security Studies program benefits significantly from the university's strong academic reputation and its location in Atlanta, a major international hub. This isn't just about government roles; you'll find graduates excelling in diverse fields like international business development, risk analysis for global corporations, think tanks, and non-governmental organizations. Atlanta's vibrant economy, home to numerous Fortune 500 companies with international operations and key non-profits, creates a robust local demand for talent with global awareness and analytical skills. The program's rigor and Emory's established recruiting pipelines help explain the strong career trajectory. Given the high AI risk in some analytical roles, your key takeaway should be to prioritize developing advanced critical thinking, cross-cultural negotiation, and ethical leadership skills, which remain uniquely human assets.
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 Emory University'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 Emory University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Emory University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Emory University, 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 Emory University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for International Relations at Emory University?
A score of 46/100 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 $627,706 in decade earnings vs $731,182 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Is Emory University a hidden gem for International Relations?
After financial aid, the average student pays $95,644 over four years — 61% below the $243,096 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.