International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degree) at Simmons University

Analysis

Can $45,870 in first-year earnings—placing this program at the Massachusetts median for the field—justify a bachelor's degree in international relations? Based on comparable IR programs in the state, Simmons appears positioned solidly in the middle, significantly ahead of the $37,000 national median but well behind Tufts' $54,000. The estimated $21,125 in debt yields a manageable 0.46 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe roughly half their first-year salary—a reasonable starting point for a liberal arts degree.

What's harder to assess is trajectory. International relations careers often require graduate degrees or start with lower-paying internships before gaining momentum, yet this field shows considerable variance even among peer Massachusetts programs (Mount Holyoke's $26,000 versus Tufts' $54,000 suggests outcomes depend heavily on individual career paths and networking). The mid-40s earnings estimate positions Simmons graduates comparably to Boston University's reported outcomes, which could reflect the advantage of Boston's concentration of nonprofits, think tanks, and government offices that hire in this field.

The debt level appears manageable if your child can keep borrowing near this estimate, but recognize you're making this investment with limited visibility into how Simmons' specific program performs versus these peer benchmarks. The state-level comparison suggests decent value for an IR degree in Massachusetts, but this field's outcomes vary dramatically based on post-graduation choices that no earnings data can predict.

Where Simmons University Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all international relations and national security studies bachelors's programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

International Relations and National Security Studies bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Simmons UniversityBoston	$45,538	$45,870*	—	$21,125*	—
Tufts UniversityMedford	$67,844	$54,079*	$71,732	$16,375*	0.30
Boston UniversityBoston	$65,168	$45,870*	$60,926	$25,000*	0.55
Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth Hadley	$64,142	$26,306*	$54,503	$18,486*	0.70
National Median	—	$37,198*	—	$21,634*	0.58

* Estimated from similar programs

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with international relations and national security studies graduates

Political Scientists

Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.

$139,380/yrJobs growth:Master's degree

Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in political science, international affairs, and international relations. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Managers, All Other

All managers not listed separately.

Regulatory Affairs Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate production activities of an organization to ensure compliance with regulations and standard operating procedures.

Compliance Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate activities of an organization to ensure compliance with ethical or regulatory standards.

Loss Prevention Managers

Plan and direct policies, procedures, or systems to prevent the loss of assets. Determine risk exposure or potential liability, and develop risk control measures.

Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Plan and direct cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated properties for reuse. Does not include properties sufficiently contaminated to qualify as Superfund sites.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Simmons University, approximately 30% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 3 similar programs in MA. Actual outcomes may vary.