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Best Schools for International/Global Studies

International/Global Studies graduates earn a median of $32,516 within two years of graduation, ranking #187 out of 292 tracked majors — 8% below the median across all fields. There are 80 colleges nationwide with tracked earnings for this major, producing 3,949 recent graduates.

Where you study matters: University of Pennsylvania graduates earn $84,653 while University of New Orleans graduates earn $18,315 — a $66,338 difference. Factors like location, employer networks, co-op programs, and curriculum focus drive this gap.

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.

80
Schools
$32,516
Avg. 2yr Earnings
#187
of 292 Majors
3,949
Graduates

Public vs Private: International/Global Studies

Public (54 schools)
$30,179
avg. 2yr earnings
Private (25 schools)
$36,606
avg. 2yr earnings

Private schools produce $6,427 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

Texas
6 schools
$34,802
California
5 schools
$38,131
New York
5 schools
$30,816
North Carolina
5 schools
$28,161
Washington
4 schools
$33,859
Colorado
4 schools
$28,604
Oregon
4 schools
$23,234
Pennsylvania
3 schools
$49,352

Top International/Global Studies Schools by Graduate Earnings

#1
U

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$84,653
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 5.9%
#2
U

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame, IN · Private

$57,318
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 12.4%
#3
A

American Public University System

Charles Town, WV ·

$56,484
2yr Earnings
1yr: $56,758
Grads: 160
Acceptance: N/A
#4
B

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA · Private

$45,249
2yr Earnings
1yr: $40,384
Grads: 44
Acceptance: 35.3%
#5
U

University of California-Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA · Public

$43,798
2yr Earnings
1yr: $43,229
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 8.7%
#6
C

Colby College

Waterville, ME · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $44,350
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 6.8%
#7
B

Boston College

Chestnut Hill, MA · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
1yr: $39,636
Grads: 55
Acceptance: 15.7%
#8
S

Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private

$42,682
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 61.2%
#9
U

University of Dayton

Dayton, OH · Private

$41,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,277
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 61.7%
#10
U

University of California-San Diego

La Jolla, CA · Public

$41,087
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,542
Grads: 263
Acceptance: 24.5%
#11
T

The University of Texas at Austin

Austin, TX · Public

$40,473
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,418
Grads: 202
Acceptance: 29.1%
#12
A

Arizona State University Campus Immersion

Tempe, AZ · Public

$39,467
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,234
Grads: 121
Acceptance: 90.2%
#13
A

Arizona State University Digital Immersion

Scottsdale, AZ · Public

$39,467
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,234
Grads: 121
Acceptance: 64.1%
#14
D

Drexel University

Philadelphia, PA · Private

$39,369
2yr Earnings
1yr: $37,186
Grads: 27
Acceptance: 77.5%
#15
U

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

Baltimore, MD · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,904
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 74.2%
#16
U

University of Utah

Salt Lake City, UT · Public

$38,289
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,511
Grads: 74
Acceptance: 87.2%
#17
S

Spelman College

Atlanta, GA · Private

$37,748
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,667
Grads: 30
Acceptance: 34.1%
#18
T

Texas A&M University-College Station

College Station, TX · Public

$37,208
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,739
Grads: 169
Acceptance: 63.2%
#19
H

Hofstra University

Hempstead, NY · Private

$36,848
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,717
Grads: 20
Acceptance: 70.6%
#20
P

Providence College

Providence, RI · Private

$36,674
2yr Earnings
1yr: $36,425
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 48.7%
#21
U

University of California-Irvine

Irvine, CA · Public

$36,049
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,752
Grads: 173
Acceptance: 25.6%
#22
P

Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 49.9%
#23
S

St Lawrence University

Canton, NY · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,583
Grads: 19
Acceptance: 58.5%
#24
S

Seattle University

Seattle, WA · Private

$35,060
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,800
Grads: 23
Acceptance: 76.0%
#25
U

University of California-Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, CA · Public

$34,660
2yr Earnings
1yr: $35,213
Grads: 252
Acceptance: 27.8%
#26
M

Macalester College

Saint Paul, MN · Private

$34,526
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,368
Grads: 43
Acceptance: 28.2%
#27
U

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,806
Grads: 198
Acceptance: 17.9%
#28
U

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Wilmington, NC · Public

$33,993
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,582
Grads: 67
Acceptance: 74.0%
#29
U

University of New Mexico-Main Campus

Albuquerque, NM · Public

$33,637
2yr Earnings
1yr: $22,207
Grads: 38
Acceptance: 95.5%
#30
U

University of Vermont

Burlington, VT · Public

$33,565
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,946
Grads: 31
Acceptance: 60.0%
#31
U

University of Washington-Seattle Campus

Seattle, WA · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,565
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 42.5%
#32
U

University of Washington-Bothell Campus

Bothell, WA · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,565
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 91.8%
#33
U

University of Washington-Tacoma Campus

Tacoma, WA · Public

$33,459
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,565
Grads: 32
Acceptance: 83.0%
#34
U

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Milwaukee, WI · Public

$33,077
2yr Earnings
1yr: $33,845
Grads: 69
Acceptance: 88.4%
#35
U

University of Oklahoma-Norman Campus

Norman, OK · Public

$32,925
2yr Earnings
1yr: $31,774
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 76.5%
#36
U

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Madison, WI · Public

$32,806
2yr Earnings
1yr: $28,989
Grads: 83
Acceptance: 43.4%
#37
U

University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public

$32,772
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,353
Grads: 114
Acceptance: 83.3%
#38
U

University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus

Denver, CO · Public

$32,711
2yr Earnings
1yr: $41,004
Grads: 33
Acceptance: 77.8%
#39
U

University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public

$32,391
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,694
Grads: 52
Acceptance: 92.4%
#40
U

University of North Texas

Denton, TX · Public

$31,616
2yr Earnings
1yr: $29,899
Grads: 68
Acceptance: 72.5%
#41
W

Western Michigan University

Kalamazoo, MI · Public

$31,423
2yr Earnings
1yr: $32,250
Grads: 28
Acceptance: 84.7%
#42
U

University of Alaska Anchorage

Anchorage, AK · Public

$31,305
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 66.5%
#43
M

Michigan State University

East Lansing, MI · Public

$30,988
2yr Earnings
1yr: $30,431
Grads: 66
Acceptance: 83.9%
#44
C

Concordia College at Moorhead

Moorhead, MN · Private

$30,771
2yr Earnings
1yr: $15,350
Grads: 18
Acceptance: 63.1%
#45
C

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Fort Collins, CO · Public

$30,616
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,432
Grads: 59
Acceptance: 89.6%
#46
U

University of North Florida

Jacksonville, FL · Public

$29,902
2yr Earnings
1yr: $34,145
Grads: 41
Acceptance: 62.3%
#47
B

Brigham Young University-Idaho

Rexburg, ID · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $26,722
Grads: 48
Acceptance: 97.0%
#48
U

University of Nebraska at Omaha

Omaha, NE · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
1yr: $27,164
Grads: 24
Acceptance: 86.9%
#49
W

Western Carolina University

Cullowhee, NC · Public

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 86.7%
#50
K

Kenyon College

Gambier, OH · Private

$29,685
2yr Earnings
Acceptance: 30.7%

Showing top 50 of 80 schools. View all or filter by state above.

Majors with Similar Earnings

Genetics $33,091 Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition Services $33,030 Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions $33,010 Theology and Religious Vocations, Other $32,973 Area Studies $32,712 Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics $32,355

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best school for International/Global Studies?
University of Pennsylvania ranks #1 for International/Global Studies with median graduate earnings of $84,653 within two years. There are 80 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 $32,516 within two years of graduation. This is near the median across all majors. Earnings range from $18,315 to $84,653 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 65.0%. 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 $36,606 in early earnings vs $30,179 at public schools. Private schools lead in earnings, but cost significantly more — calculate net price before deciding.

Data updated June 2026. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings are median 2 years after graduation for bachelor's degree holders.

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