Home Schools Marquette University International Relations
Social Sciences · International Relations Rank #72 of 106

International Relationsat Marquette University

Graduates earn $43,290/yr in their first year — about 10.0% above the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $494K; scenarios range from $466K to $495K depending on AI disruption.

Milwaukee, WI Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
38 AT RISK
39
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,290
1-year post-graduation
ROI
1.2x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$494K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Marquette University

At $43,290 per year, International Relations graduates from Marquette University earn slightly above the $39,530 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

An earnings multiple of 2.5x 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 6% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $20,750 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #72 out of 106 programs, Marquette University's financial outcomes for International Relations trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

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
$466K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple2.4x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$494K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score38/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$495K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score39/100
Earnings Multiple2.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Marquette University'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 Marquette University 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
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$66K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Also at Marquette University

Other top programs at Marquette University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Marquette 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about International Relations at Marquette University

How does Marquette University's International Relations program score?

This program scores 38/100 — 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.