International Relationsat Fairfield University
Graduates earn $49,239/yr in their first year — about 25.0% above the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $652K; scenarios range from $587K to $672K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Fairfield University
Graduates earn $49,239/yr, edging above the $39,530 national average for International Relations — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.
An earnings multiple of 2.9x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.
AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 13% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
The $27,000 debt-to-$49,239 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.
Ranked #37 out of 106 programs, Fairfield University's International Relations offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.
Earnings growth from $49,239 to $75,046 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.
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 Fairfield 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 Fairfield University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Fairfield University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Fairfield 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 Fairfield University
How does Fairfield University's International Relations program score?
This program scores 47/100 — on the lower end for International Relations. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is International Relations to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' International Relations careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.