International Studies Major Guide: Overview and RoEDU™ Opportunities 2025

The International Studies major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.

Within Humanities, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.

Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.

As part of Humanities, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.

Salary Outlook

Entry-level salary
$37,901

Typical starting pay soon after graduation.

Mid-career salary (10y)
$59,924

Estimated after a decade of experience.

Experienced salary (20y)
$80,533

Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.

Weighted median over last 5 years
CAGR 8.0%

CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.

Estimated lifetime earnings

40 years, present value
$1,516,040

Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.

Career Opportunities & Salaries

Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections

OccupationMedian WageTotal JobsGrowth RateEducation
Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
SOC: 11-9072
Occupation: Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling
$77,180
36,700
N/A
N/A
Managers, All Other
SOC: 11-9199
Occupation: Managers, All Other
$136,550
630,980
N/A
N/A
Compliance Officers
SOC: 13-1041
Occupation: Compliance Officers
$78,420
397,770
N/A
N/A
Conservation Scientists
SOC: 19-1031
Occupation: Conservation Scientists
$67,950
25,590
N/A
N/A
Foresters
SOC: 19-1032
Occupation: Foresters
$70,660
9,650
N/A
N/A
Economists
SOC: 19-3011
Occupation: Economists
$115,440
15,880
N/A
N/A

Historical Career Trends (2020-2024)

Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years

Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling

24.5%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$77,18036,700
2023$73,46029,690
2022$67,22022,950
2021$62,00017,800

Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary

12.4%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$71,47013,560
2023$69,03013,390
2022$64,99013,900
2021$64,60013,790
2020$63,56014,030

Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers

34.8%
5-Year Growth
YearMedian WageEmployment
2024$33,720143,590
2023$30,380123,560
2022$27,270107,930
2021$25,630114,320
2020$25,020113,150

Colleges offering International Studies

University of Florida

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$12k

Earnings

$63k

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$45k

Earnings

$89k

National University

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$29k

Earnings

$67k

University of Southern California

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$42k

Earnings

$78k

Illinois Institute of Technology

RoEdu™

999

Net Price

$26k

Earnings

$76k