Best colleges for International Relations and National Security Studies in New York
Ranked by graduate earnings
Fordham University, Syracuse University and CUNY City College are the top bachelor's International Relations and National Security Studies programs in New York by graduate earnings. Fordham University leads with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,653, College Scorecard. Columbia University, New York University and Syracuse University award the most International Relations and National Security Studies degrees in New York: 190, 186 and 166 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25). 33 New York colleges offer International Relations and National Security Studies and award 1,069 degrees and certificates a year in all.
The International Relations and National Security Studies program focuses on the complex interactions between nations, organized violence, and military conflict. This program is designed for students interested in understanding global…
Top 8 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $46,653 | 110 | 82% | $38,931 | $25,843 |
| 2 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $43,249 | 166 | 84% | $28,851 | $26,635 |
| 3 | CUNY City College New York Public · Bachelor's degree | $30,627 | 43 | 57% | — | $13,337 |
| 4 | Hamilton College Clinton Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $45,332 | 16 | 91% | $20,680 | $19,000 |
| 5 | Hobart William Smith Colleges Geneva Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $40,648 | 12 | 77% | $22,374 | $26,000 |
| 6 | SUNY College at Geneseo Geneseo Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $36,754 | 9 | 71% | — | $21,519 |
| 7 | Vassar College Poughkeepsie Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,956 | 19 | 91% | $29,107 | $20,232 |
| 8 | SUNY Oneonta Oneonta Public · Bachelor's degree Small program | $31,455 | 5 | 69% | — | $17,125 |
Colleges awarding the most International Relations and National Security Studies degrees in New York
Top 10 by graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25 completions). Certificate and associate programs, online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools, and schools with a graduation rate under 30% are listed in full below.
| # | Institution | Graduates / yr | Starting salary (1 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University New York Private not-for-profit | 190 | Not reported |
| 2 | New York University New York Private not-for-profit | 186 | Not reported |
| 3 | Syracuse University Syracuse Private not-for-profit | 166 | $43,249 |
| 4 | Fordham University Bronx Private not-for-profit | 110 | $46,653 |
| 5 | CUNY City College New York Public | 43 | $30,627 |
| 6 | CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice New York Public | 42 | Not reported |
| 7 | Colgate University Hamilton Private not-for-profit | 35 | Not reported |
| 8 | United States Military Academy West Point Public | 34 | Not reported |
| 9 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York Public | 27 | Not reported |
| 10 | The New School New York Private not-for-profit | 24 | Not reported |
ShowHide the other 23 New York colleges offering International Relations and National Security Studies
| Institution | City | Control | Graduates / yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vassar College | Poughkeepsie | Private not-for-profit | 19 |
| Skidmore College | Saratoga Springs | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| State University of New York at New Paltz | New Paltz | Public | 18 |
| Excelsior University (Online) | Albany | Private not-for-profit | 18 |
| Cornell University | Ithaca | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Hamilton College | Clinton | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | Private not-for-profit | 16 |
| University of Rochester | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 14 |
| University at Albany | Albany | Public | 13 |
| Hobart William Smith Colleges | Geneva | Private not-for-profit | 12 |
| SUNY College at Geneseo | Geneseo | Public | 9 |
| SUNY Buffalo State University | Buffalo | Public | 5 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | Public | 5 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Canisius University | Buffalo | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Nazareth University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Niagara University | Niagara University | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| St. John's University - New York | Queens | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| Wagner College | Staten Island | Private not-for-profit | 4 |
| State University of New York at Cortland | Cortland | Public | 3 |
| Mercy University | Dobbs Ferry | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| St. John Fisher University | Rochester | Private not-for-profit | 2 |
| SUNY Brockport | Brockport | Public | 2 |
Career outlook
What this program leads to: Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094).
Top skills
What Political Scientists earn in New York
Related careers
Common questions
Answers for students comparing International Relations and National Security Studies programs in New York.
Which New York colleges award the most International Relations and National Security Studies degrees?+
Columbia University (190 graduates a year), New York University (186 graduates a year) and Syracuse University (166 graduates a year) award the most International Relations and National Security Studies degrees in New York, per IPEDS 2024–25 completions. In all, 33 New York colleges offer International Relations and National Security Studies.
What is the best college for International Relations and National Security Studies in New York?+
By graduate earnings, Fordham University leads among bachelor's International Relations and National Security Studies programs in New York, with median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $46,653, College Scorecard. Syracuse University and CUNY City College follow. By degrees awarded, Columbia University is the largest, with 190 graduates a year (IPEDS 2024–25).
Which International Relations and National Security Studies program in New York has the highest-earning graduates?+
By median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, Fordham University tops the list at $46,653. Compare it against graduates a year, graduation rate, cost, and debt in the ranked table above.
What is the focus of the International Relations and National Security Studies program?+
The International Relations and National Security Studies program focuses on the complex interactions between nations, organized violence, and military conflict. This program is designed for students interested in understanding global…
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, active learning, and related professional skills.
What is the job outlook for Political Scientists?+
The national job outlook is about -3.1% growth with around 500 annual openings (BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034).
What is the typical education requirement?+
A Master's degree is the typical entry-level education for this field (BLS).
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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