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International Relations at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · International Relations and National Security Studies

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,870/yr (19% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (108,800 openings/yr)

ROI 9.0x earnings multiple (3.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #6 of 106 International Relations programs Top 10%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to International Relations graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$787K	$755K	$666K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	9.4x	9.0x	7.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.4x	3.3x	2.9x
Probability of Field Employment	53%	48%	37%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	58	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$83,944

Out-of-state: $232,056 (3.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$91,524

-9% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,500

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$87,416

87% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

University of Virginia-Main Campus's International Relations graduates start at $46,870/yr — above the $39,530 national average, though not by a wide margin.

At 9.0x the cost of in-state tuition, the ten-year earnings outlook represents a strong return. Not exceptional, but meaningfully positive.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $19,500 in median debt clears quickly against $46,870 in annual earnings.

A #6 ranking out of 106 International Relations programs nationally puts University of Virginia-Main Campus in the top 10% — a strong but not elite position.

Earnings growth from $46,870 to $87,416 over five years (87% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Virginia-Main Campus

Admission to University of Virginia-Main Campus is competitive, with 17% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 17,315 in Charlottesville, VA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Virginia-Main Campus →

Top Career Paths

Political scientists $139,380/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

Political science teachers, postsecondary $94,680/yr

View all 3 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

International Relations at Other Schools

Other Majors at University of Virginia-Main Campus

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Virginia-Main Campus's International Relations program score?

This program scores 58/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for International Relations graduates.

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.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →