International Relations · Columbia University in the City of New York
How much do Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations graduates earn?
Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations and National Security Studies earned a median $107,574 four years after graduating, 12% above the $95,627 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $80,448; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $80,500 in federal loans at this college (about $916 a month on a 10-year plan).
- Median earnings, 4 years after:
- $107,574
- National median, same program:
- $95,627
- Federal debt borrowed at this college (median):
- $80,500
- Monthly payment, 10-year plan:
- $916
Columbia University in the City of New York, master's in International Relations. Earnings: graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19, earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars. Debt: graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20. College Scorecard, 10 June 2026.
Quick answers
- What do International Relations graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York earn?
- Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations earned a median $107,574 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How much federal debt do International Relations graduates of Columbia University in the City of New York have?
- Graduates who borrowed took out a median $80,500 in federal loans at Columbia University in the City of New York (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
- How does Columbia University in the City of New York compare with the national median for International Relations?
- $107,574 is 12% above the $95,627 national median for master's programs in the same field (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- How does Columbia University in the City of New York compare with other New York International Relations programs?
- It is 16% above the $92,939 earned by graduates of the typical New York master's program in the field (4 programs, College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23).
- Is a International Relations degree from Columbia University in the City of New York worth it?
- Federal data cannot decide that for you, but it puts the figures side by side: Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations earned a median $107,574 four years after graduating (College Scorecard, 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23), and those who borrowed took out a median $80,500 in federal loans there, about $916 a month on a 10-year plan, roughly 10% of the median graduate's monthly earnings before tax (College Scorecard, graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20).
International Relations at Columbia University in the City of New York, by credential
One credential level has federal figures. Federal program group: International Relations and National Security Studies (CIP 45.09), which includes its related specialties.
| Credential | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings, 1 yr after | Earnings, 4 yrs after | vs national | Debt borrowed at this college | Total debt incl. other colleges | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master's | 399 | $80,448 | $107,574 | +12% | $80,500 | — | $916/mo |
The one-year and four-year figures describe different graduating classes (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21 and 2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23) in different dollars, so the gap between them is not one class's pay growth. A dash means the Department of Education suppressed the figure because too few graduates were measured.
What the two debt figures mean
Federal debt borrowed at this college: the median of the federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS) that graduates who borrowed took out at this college.
Total federal debt, including other colleges attended: the same graduates' federal loans from every college they attended, counting only loans at the same level as this credential (undergraduate loans for an undergraduate credential, graduate loans for a graduate one).
Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN. Monthly payment is for the debt borrowed at this college. Source: College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation (September 2025), "Cumulative loan debt".
Cite this data
- Statistic
- Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations earned a median $107,574 four years after graduating, against a national median of $95,627 for the same program and credential.
- Data period
- Graduates of 2017-18 and 2018-19 who received federal aid, worked and were not enrolled; earnings measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars (116 graduates measured).
- Source
- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field-of-study data (release of 10 June 2026)
- Page
- https://campuspin.com/schools/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/programs/international-relations
- Suggested citation
- CampusPin (2026). Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations: graduate earnings and debt. Data: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, field of study, 10 June 2026. https://campuspin.com/schools/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/programs/international-relations
Or paste these figures into your page as a small table (departments, admissions, counselors)
Plain HTML with no script and no tracking: each credential's figure with its period and source, and one link back to this page.
How does Columbia University in the City of New York compare with other New York International Relations programs?
Across the 4 New York master's programs in International Relations with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $92,939; Columbia University in the City of New York's $107,574 is 16% above that.
| College (master's) | Earnings, 4 yrs after | 1 yr after (later class) | Debt borrowed at this college |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University in the City of New York (this college) | $107,574 | $80,448 | $80,500 |
| New York University | $93,034 | $59,814 | $102,482 |
| Syracuse University | $92,844 | $60,384 | $41,744 |
| The New School | $70,655 | $47,855 | $48,671 |
All 4 New York programs, ordered by one federal measure (median earnings four years after graduating), not a ranking of program quality. Only programs with at least 30 graduates in the earnings cohort are listed.
Every International Relations program in New York. Compare International Relations programs and share the result
What the new federal loan limits mean for this graduate program
For loans first disbursed on or after 1 July 2026, new graduate borrowers can take at most $20,500 a year and $100,000 in total in federal loans, or $50,000 and $200,000 in programs the Department treats as professional (Federal Student Aid, May 2026). Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations borrowed a median $80,500 under the old rules. Which graduate programs' typical debt is over the new caps.
Questions about International Relations at Columbia University in the City of New York
- How much do Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations graduates earn?
- Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations and National Security Studies earned a median $107,574 four years after graduating, 12% above the $95,627 national median for the same program (2017-19 graduates, measured 2022-23, College Scorecard). One year after graduating, a later class (2018-20 graduates, measured 2020-21) earned a median $80,448; the two figures describe different graduates, not one class's growth. Graduates who borrowed took out a median $80,500 in federal loans at this college (about $916 a month on a 10-year plan).
- How much student debt do Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations graduates have?
- Columbia University in the City of New York's master's graduates in International Relations who borrowed took out a median $80,500 in federal loans at Columbia University in the City of New York, about $916 a month on a standard 10-year plan (graduates of 2018-19 and 2019-20, College Scorecard). Neither figure includes Parent PLUS loans, private loans or accrued interest. The two differ most for transfer students and for degree-completion programs such as RN-to-BSN.
- How does Columbia University in the City of New York's International Relations program compare with others in New York?
- Across the 4 New York master's programs in International Relations with a federal earnings figure, the typical program's graduates earned $92,939; Columbia University in the City of New York's $107,574 is 16% above that.
Keep going
- Columbia University in the City of New York: cost, admissions and every program
- International Relations major guide: what it pays nationally
- Same degree, different paycheck: how much the college matters
- What does International Relations pay at other colleges?
Other programs at Columbia University in the City of New York with graduate earnings
- Conservation Science
- Communications
- Journalism
- Computer Science
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- English & Literature
- Statistics
- Public Administration
- Social Work
- Economics
- Political Science
- Sociology
- Theater Arts
- Public Health
- Nursing
- Business Administration
- Information Systems
- Construction Management
- History
Median earnings of graduates who received federal student aid, worked, and were not enrolled in school; debt is the median federal loans borrowed at this college by graduates who borrowed (Direct Subsidized, Unsubsidized and Grad PLUS; not Parent PLUS, private loans or interest). Programs with too few graduates are suppressed by the Department of Education. Earnings reflect who enrolls, where graduates live and the jobs they take, as well as the program itself. Download every program (CSV).
Data sources & methodology
Figures on this page come from the Department of Education's College Scorecard field-of-study file, matched to Columbia University in the City of New York by its federal UNITID.
Sources used across this page
Not every source informs every figure. Each data point draws on the source appropriate to it see the relevant section and the data dictionary for field-level provenance.
Program-level median earnings one and four years after completing, and median federal loan debt at completion, by institution, 4-digit CIP field and credential level.
College Scorecard, Field of Study data documentation
How the field-of-study cohorts are built, which graduates are counted, and how small cells are suppressed and perturbed for privacy.
Where a value is unavailable it is shown as unavailable, never as 0, free, or a negative judgment. Always confirm final details with the institution before applying.
Suggested citation
CampusPin. (10 June 2026). Columbia University in the City of New York International Relations: graduate earnings and debt. Retrieved from https://campuspin.com/schools/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york/programs/international-relations