International Studiesat University of California-Berkeley
Graduates earn $46,660/yr in their first year — about 34.0% above the national International Studies average. Base-case 10-year earnings $514K; scenarios range from $487K to $515K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UC Berkeley
Studying International/Global Studies at Berkeley positions you uniquely, leveraging the university's prestige and its Bay Area location. Your strong earning potential reflects not just a rigorous academic foundation but also the region's concentration of global tech firms, international NGOs, and innovative startups seeking talent with cross-cultural understanding. This interdisciplinary program hones critical thinking, language proficiency, and nuanced geopolitical analysis—skills highly valued in roles from international business development and foreign service to policy analysis at think tanks. The moderate AI risk reflects that human diplomacy, complex negotiation, and cultural intelligence remain irreplaceable. To maximize your outcome, actively pursue internships with global companies or organizations, and deeply engage with Berkeley's extensive alumni network in your chosen field.
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 UC Berkeley'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 Studies
How UC Berkeley stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UC Berkeley
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Berkeley, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in International Studies offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare International Studies trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about International Studies at UC Berkeley
What does a 39/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for International Studies at University of California-Berkeley?
At 39/100, the financial outlook is modest. Higher-scoring International Studies programs exist, though non-financial factors may justify this choice.
Is University of California-Berkeley one of the best schools for International Studies?
Among 81 International Studies programs, University of California-Berkeley's #18 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.