Home Schools Middlebury College International Relations
Social Sciences · International Relations Rank #5 of 106

International Relationsat Middlebury College

Graduates earn $68,344/yr in their first year — about 73.0% above the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $892K; scenarios range from $772K to $941K depending on AI disruption.

Middlebury, VT Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
60 SOLID
61
Optimistic
57
Pessimistic
Earnings
$68,344
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.4x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$892K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
54% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Middlebury College

Your strong early-career earnings reflect Middlebury's elite reputation and the rigorous analytical, writing, and language skills you'll develop. This program prepares you not just for specific roles, but for complex problem-solving in a global context, highly valued in consulting, finance, and federal government agencies like the State Department or intelligence community. Alumni leverage this powerful network to secure roles in Washington D.C. think tanks, international NGOs, and top-tier graduate programs. While the field faces significant AI risk, your ability to integrate information, negotiate across cultures, and exercise ethical judgment—core Middlebury strengths—will be invaluable. Focus on internships that demand these uniquely human skills to future-proof your career.

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
$772K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score57/100
Earnings Multiple3.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$892K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score60/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$941K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score61/100
Earnings Multiple3.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Middlebury 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 Middlebury 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
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$66K
1-yr earn
2.5x
ROI
Lafayette College
PA · Private nonprofit
54
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
2.6x
ROI
Also at Middlebury College

Other top programs at Middlebury College

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Middlebury 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 Middlebury College

What does a 60/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for International Relations at Middlebury College?

At 60/100, Middlebury College's International Relations program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study International Relations at Middlebury College?

The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is Middlebury College one of the best schools for International Relations?

Among 106 International Relations programs, Middlebury College's #5 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.

What do students actually pay for International Relations at Middlebury College?

The 60% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $261,120. At a net cost of $103,736, the earnings multiple improves substantially.