International Relations and National Security Studies at City College of New York - CUNY
NY · Bachelor's Degree · CIP 45.09
Executive Summary
Graduates with a International Relations and National Security Studies degree from City College of New York - CUNY earn a median salary of $62,336 within five years of graduation. Adjusted for the cost of living in NY, this represents a national purchasing power equivalent of $47,224. The degree typically pays for itself in 8.4 years.
Quick Insights
How this degree looks at a glance
A fast read on salary range, break-even speed, living-cost impact, and where bachelor's graduates from this school usually land.
Salary Ranges
Starting Range
$46,435
Typical Career
$62,336
Top Performers
$80,559
Estimated break-even: 8.4 years.
Debt-to-Income Check
$416
Estimated comfortable monthly loan payment
Typical monthly pay is approximately $5,195. Most students can comfortably afford about a $416 monthly loan payment with this degree.
Comparison Bench
This degree earns 1.6x more than the average US high school graduate and 0.8x more than the average college graduate.
Purchasing Power Context
A dollar in New York buys what costs $1.32 nationally.
Industry Breadcrumbs
Top industries for bachelor's graduates from this school: Health Care & Social Assistance, Educational Services, Professional, Scientific & Technical Services.
Where Bachelor's Graduates from This School Work
Institution-wide industry mix for bachelor's graduates, 5 years after graduation. This is not major-specific. Source: Census PSEO Flows.
5-Year Median Salary — National Purchasing Power Equivalent
$47,224
Nominal: $62,336 in New York (COL 132.0% of national avg) · 24.2% lower purchasing power
10-Year Earnings Curve
Break-Even Timeline
How long until cumulative earnings advantage exceeds total college investment (tuition + opportunity cost vs. entering workforce directly after high school).
Total Investment
$155,168
4yr tuition + 4yr opportunity cost
HS Graduate Baseline
$38,792/yr
BLS 2023 median, HS diploma
View Raw Data: Median Earnings by Year
| Timeframe | 25th Pct. | Median (50th) | 75th Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Year After Graduation | $26,467 | $38,856 | $52,839 |
| 5 Years After Graduation | $46,435 | $62,336 | $80,559 |
| 10 Years After Graduation | $52,212 | $72,776 | $96,069 |
Source: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO), 2025 release. Earnings shown for Bachelor's degree graduates (all cohorts combined).
How We Calculate Purchasing Power
The median salary of $62,336 is reported by the US Census Bureau's Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) dataset for graduates working in NY, which has a cost-of-living index of 132.0% of the national average.
Formula: Adjusted Salary = Nominal × (1.0 ÷ COL Index)
= $62,336 × (1.0 ÷ 1.3200)
= $47,224 National Average equivalent.
COL index source: BLS Regional Consumer Price Index & MIT Living Wage Project, 2023. Full methodology →
Career Verdict
The top industries for graduates include Health Care & Social Assistance (22.0%), Educational Services (15.6%), and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services (13.8%). With an estimated break-even point of approximately 8.4 years compared to a high-school-only path, the return on investment for this degree can be considered favorable, particularly for those who enter high-demand sectors. Overall, while the initial financial return may take time to materialize, the long-term earnings potential and industry opportunities present a compelling case for pursuing this field of study.
AI-assisted editorial analysis based on Census PSEO data. Fact-checked against source data.
Compare with Another School
See how the International Relations and National Security Studies degree at City College of New York - CUNY stacks up against another institution side-by-side.
Data sources: US Census Bureau Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO). Cost-of-living index: BLS Regional CPI & MIT Living Wage Project. Cost of attendance: IPEDS. For informational use only; data may be suppressed for small cohort sizes.