Best International Relations and National Security Studies Degrees in California by ROI

Colleges in California ranked by estimated 20-year net return on investment — calculated from median graduate earnings, total attendance cost, and average student debt. Data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Programs in California

14

Colleges with salary data

Average 20-Yr Net ROI

-$30,638

Across California programs

Average Annual Cost

$49,789

Cost of attendance

# College 20-Yr Net ROI Median Salary Annual Cost Avg Debt
1 Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey +$851,340 $84,567 N/A N/A Full ROI →
2 California State University Maritime Academy

Grad rate: 64.9%

 +$224,348 $60,400 $27,138 $26,000 Full ROI →
3 Stanford University

Grad rate: 94.0%

 +$147,952 $65,830 $82,162 N/A Full ROI →
4 Northeastern University Oakland +$124,761 $49,664 N/A $21,125 Full ROI →
5 University of San Diego

Grad rate: 82.1%

 -$36,471 $56,779 $74,879 $24,100 Full ROI →
6 San Diego State University

Grad rate: 78.1%

 -$100,418 $43,607 $27,357 $17,134 Full ROI →
7 San Francisco State University

Grad rate: 52.2%

 -$115,584 $42,403 $25,258 $16,750 Full ROI →
8 University of Southern California

Grad rate: 92.2%

 -$134,154 $53,157 $84,678 $13,765 Full ROI →
9 University of California-Davis

Grad rate: 85.7%

 -$143,469 $43,278 $38,067 $12,416 Full ROI →
10 California State University-Chico

Grad rate: 63.9%

 -$161,278 $40,073 $25,590 $15,095 Full ROI →
11 California State University-Long Beach

Grad rate: 71.3%

 -$240,720 $34,026 $20,310 N/A Full ROI →
12 University of California-Riverside

Grad rate: 76.3%

 -$264,593 $37,042 $34,975 $18,914 Full ROI →
13 Occidental College

Grad rate: 84.0%

 -$286,905 $45,083 $80,636 $19,275 Full ROI →
14 University of San Francisco

Grad rate: 72.8%

 -$293,749 $44,251 $76,421 $24,508 Full ROI →

How ROI is calculated

20-Year Net ROI = Gross Earnings (salary × 20) − Total Degree Cost (annual cost × programme years) − Debt Payoff (avg debt × 1.35) − Baseline Opportunity Cost ($42,000 × 20 = $840,000)

A positive ROI means a degree in this field pays off relative to entering the workforce without one. Data from the U.S. College Scorecard.

Find Best International Relations and National Security Studies Degrees by State

Browse International Relations and National Security Studies programs ranked by 20-year ROI in every state that offers this degree.

Alabama Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Arizona Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Arkansas Best International Relations and National Security Studies → California Current state Colorado Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Connecticut Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Delaware Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Florida Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Georgia Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Idaho Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Illinois Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Indiana Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Iowa Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Louisiana Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Maryland Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Massachusetts Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Michigan Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Minnesota Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Missouri Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Nevada Best International Relations and National Security Studies → New Hampshire Best International Relations and National Security Studies → New Jersey Best International Relations and National Security Studies → New York Best International Relations and National Security Studies → North Carolina Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Ohio Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Oregon Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Pennsylvania Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Rhode Island Best International Relations and National Security Studies → South Carolina Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Tennessee Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Texas Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Utah Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Vermont Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Virginia Best International Relations and National Security Studies → Washington Best International Relations and National Security Studies → West Virginia Best International Relations and National Security Studies →