Best Schools for International/Global Studies

International/Global Studies graduates earn a median of $57,893 within four years of graduating, ranking #187 out of 283 tracked majors — 7% below the median across all fields. There are 101 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 4,246 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: Boston College graduates earn $91,874 while University of New Mexico-Main Campus graduates earn $33,116 — a $58,758 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap. Across all fields, though, which major you pick separates earnings more than which college does.

Early career salary growth is moderate: International/Global Studies graduates see an average 9% increase between year 1 and year 2 post-graduation, reflecting career advancement and skill development in the first years after college.

101

Schools

$57,893

Avg. 2yr Earnings

#187

of 283 Majors

4,246

Graduates

Public vs Private: International/Global Studies

Public (70 schools)

$56,504

avg. 2yr earnings

Private (31 schools)

$60,287

avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $3,783 more in early earnings on average for International/Global Studies graduates. Factor in tuition difference to calculate which offers better ROI.

International/Global Studies by State

Also by state: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington

Top International/Global Studies Schools by Graduate Earnings

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$82,501

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

2yr: $43,798 (27)

1yr: $43,229 (24)

Acceptance: 8.7%

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

University of Virginia-Main Campus

Charlottesville, VA · Public

North Carolina State University at Raleigh

Raleigh, NC · Public

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$72,375

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

2yr: $39,369 (19)

1yr: $37,186 (27)

Acceptance: 77.5%

Kenyon College

Gambier, OH · Private

$72,305

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

2yr: $29,685 (20)

Acceptance: 30.7%

College of the Holy Cross

Worcester, MA · Private

$71,280

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 21.1%

#10

The University of the South

Sewanee, TN · Private

$70,907

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

2yr: $28,960 (20)

Acceptance: 50.9%

#11

University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL · Public

$69,568

4yr Earnings

16 grads · small sample

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH · Private

$68,196

4yr Earnings

30 grads · small sample

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Champaign, IL · Public

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

$67,281

4yr Earnings

24 grads · small sample

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

Ohio State University-Main Campus

Columbus, OH · Public

$66,995

4yr Earnings

25 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 50.8%

#18

University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public

$66,522

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 11.7%

#19

Washington University in St Louis

St. Louis, MO · Private

$66,498

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

1yr: $36,903 (19)

Acceptance: 12.0%

#20

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

$65,419

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

University at Albany

Albany, NY · Public

$63,881

4yr Earnings

26 grads · small sample

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$62,495

4yr Earnings

22 grads · small sample

2yr: $35,060 (35)

Acceptance: 49.9%

#29

California State University-Monterey Bay

Seaside, CA · Public

$61,480

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

1yr: $29,340 (29)

Acceptance: 94.8%

#30

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

Texas State University

San Marcos, TX · Public

College of Charleston

Charleston, SC · Public

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public

Centre College

Danville, KY · Private

University of Florida

Gainesville, FL · Public

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

University of California-Riverside

Riverside, CA · Public

$57,959

4yr Earnings

28 grads · small sample

1yr: $20,459 (19)

Acceptance: 63.3%

#40

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

Wright State University-Main Campus

Dayton, OH · Public

$56,668

4yr Earnings

27 grads · small sample

1yr: $29,715 (21)

Acceptance: 95.2%

#42

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$56,590

4yr Earnings

23 grads · small sample

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · Private

$56,538

4yr Earnings

29 grads · small sample

Texas Tech University

Lubbock, TX · Public

$56,496

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

1yr: $37,047 (20)

Acceptance: 70.9%

#45

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN · Private

University of Northern Colorado

Greeley, CO · Public

$55,967

4yr Earnings

19 grads · small sample

The University of Texas at Arlington

Arlington, TX · Public

$55,933

4yr Earnings

17 grads · small sample

Acceptance: 81.3%

#48

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · Public

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL · Public

Showing top 50 of 101 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Theology and Religious Vocations, Other $32,973 Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services $32,861 Legal Support Services $32,696 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions $32,690 Natural Resources Conservation and Research $32,584 Journalism $32,301

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for International/Global Studies?

Boston College ranks #1 for International/Global Studies with median graduate earnings of $91,874 within four years of graduating. There are 101 schools nationwide offering this major with tracked earnings data.

How much do International/Global Studies graduates earn?

International/Global Studies graduates earn an average of $57,893 within four years of graduating. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $33,116 to $91,874 depending on the school.

How hard is it to get into a top International/Global Studies program?

The average acceptance rate across International/Global Studies programs is 64.7%. The most selective program is at University of Pennsylvania with a 5.9% acceptance rate. Competitive programs value strong math/analytical skills and relevant coursework.

Is a public or private school better for International/Global Studies?

Private International/Global Studies programs average $60,287 in early earnings vs $56,504 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders, from the field-of-study file last updated June 2026. Institution-level figures elsewhere on the site come from the June 2026 release — Scorecard publishes the two separately.

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