International Relationsat Virginia Military Institute
Graduates earn $44,429/yr in their first year — about 12.0% above the national International Relations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $698K; scenarios range from $622K to $723K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Virginia Military Institute
First-year earnings of $44,429 at Virginia Military Institute come in 12% above the national median of $39,530 for International Relations programs.
At 8.5x 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 14% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $44,429 far exceeding the $21,875 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #12 out of 106 programs, Virginia Military Institute's International Relations program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth from $44,429 to $79,025 over five years (78% 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 Virginia Military Institute'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 Virginia Military Institute stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Virginia Military Institute
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Virginia Military Institute, 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 Virginia Military Institute
How does Virginia Military Institute's International Relations program score?
This program scores 55/100, 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.
Why does Virginia Military Institute rank so high for International Relations?
The #12 ranking out of 106 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.