 | Online University: $12,000-$20,000 |
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 | State University: $22,000-$70,000 |
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 | Private University: $24,000-$88,000 |
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| Possible career fields for individuals with a master's degree in international relations can include foreign service (such as working with a global organization), politics or public policy, intelligence, international business, journalism, or international education. | | |
| Typical costs: | - A master's degree in international relations from a state university typically costs $22,000 -$70,000, which includes full-time tuition and fees for a standard two-year program, depending on whether the student is a resident of that state. In 2011, tuition and fees at the University of Massachusetts Boston costs about $33,000 for residents and $57,000 for non-residents. At the University of California San Diego, tuition and fees costs $39,400 for California residents or $64,000 for non-residents.
- A degree from a private university typically costs $24,000 -$88,000, including tuition and fees. Based in St. Louis, MO, Webster University offers a one-year master's program in which the student travels to four European locations while completing all the coursework; tuition, fees, books, and housing during academic periods cost $41,000. A one-year master's degree in international relations from the IE School of Arts and Humanities in Madrid costs about 30,200 Euros, or roughly $45,000. The cost includes tuition and fees, but not housing or food. A two-year degree at LUISS Guido Carli, a private university in Rome costs about 16,800 Euros, or $24,000.
- An online master's degree in international relations typically costs $12,000 -$20,000. A degree from American Public University costs $13,900 in 2011 and includes tuition, fees and books. A similar online degree from the City College of New York costs $16,000 for New York residents or $21,000 for non-residents, including tuition and fees.
What should be included: | - A master's degree in international relations typically requires 40-60 credits. It typically includes coursework in foreign policy, international law, economics and languages. Courses may be offered in-person or online.
Additional costs: | - Food and housing can add an additional $10,000 -$20,000 per academic year, and the price varies according to the average cost-of-living in the area. For example, the Maxwell School of Syracuse University estimates housing and utilities at $7,200 and meals at $5,030 for the 2011-2012 school year.
- Books and supplies typically cost $1,000 -$3,000 total. The University of California San Diego estimates books at $500 per quarter, for a total of $1,500 per academic year.
- Transportation fees for graduate students are typically $600 -$3,000 per year. The American School in Paris estimates that students will pay 600 Euros per year for local travel and 1,000 Euros for international travel such as plane fare, which is about $2,400 total (in 2011) for one year of the two-year program.
- Medical insurance and personal expenses for graduate students can add another $3,000 -$10,000 per year, also varying with the cost of living in the area. At Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, health insurance and personal expenses are estimated at $9,819 for 2010-2011.
Discounts: | - Some universities offer a limited number of assistantships for master's programs. If granted an assistantship, a student may work part-time researching in the field or teaching courses at the university while earning a stipend which can be used for tuition and other expenses. For example, at Boston University, graduate assistants earn $1,600 each semester as a stipend, plus an additional amount as a scholarship.
- Scholarships may be available to students who meet program qualifications such as a high GPA or a proven financial need. The Carter Center, for example, offers assistantships and scholarships to qualified peace studies students.
Shopping for a master's in international relations: | - The Foreign Policy Association, a non-profit group encouraging participation in public policy, lists some of the top graduate programs in International Relations at American universities as well as links to programs in Europe and additional resources.
- A list of online graduation schools with international relations programs is available at The Princeton Review (free registration required).
- U.S. News & World Report explains the cost factors involved with studying abroad. The article points out that many non-American programs in International Relations can be completed in a year or less, which may cut down on overall living costs while in school.
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Article updated August 2011 |
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