Compare 30 National Security Policy Studies. programs in the Midwest. Average earnings: $44,296.
While school rankings suggest predictable outcomes, National Security Policy Studies tells a different story. Across 30 programs, earnings range from $36,401 to $73,180—variation that tracks program quality, not overall school reputation.
Northwestern University's National Security Policy Studies program leads with graduates earning $73,180, well above the $44,296 average. But Michigan State University follows closely at $63,752 with 84% admission rates, proving accessible programs can deliver strong outcomes. The University of Chicago rounds out the top three at $61,202.
High earnings don't tell the whole story—debt burden matters. Northwestern graduates borrow $15,000 and face just a 4.1% payment burden, landing in the 'Excellent' category. Michigan State students borrow $23,250 with a 7.7% burden—still excellent, demonstrating that strong programs can also be affordable.
| Rank | School | Program Earnings | Cohort Size | Student Debt | Student GPS | Parent Debt | Parent GPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Northwestern UniversityPrivate | $73,180 | 37 | $15,000 | Excellent | $26,966 | Manageable |
| #2 | $63,752 | 116 | $23,250 | Excellent | $37,401 | Challenging | |
| #3 | University Of ChicagoPrivate | $61,202 | 17 | $15,000 | Excellent | $33,297 | Challenging |
| #4 | University Of IowaPublic | $57,275 | 40 | $22,500 | Good | $27,975 | Challenging |
| #5 | Miami University-OxfordPublic | $56,642 | 121 | $23,000 | Good | $34,512 | High |
| #6 | Wheaton CollegePrivate | $55,844 | 34 | $23,250 | Good | $35,000 | High |
| #7 | Denison UniversityPrivate | $55,160 | 18 | $26,000 | Good | $45,521 | High |
| #8 | $55,030 | 178 | $19,976 | Good | $25,868 | Challenging | |
| #9 | $53,878 | 100 | $19,509 | Good | $32,850 | High | |
| #10 | Webster UniversityPrivate | $51,753 | 5 | $23,000 | Good | $13,587 | Challenging |
| #11 | $49,936 | 25 | $27,000 | Manageable | $23,103 | High | |
| #12 | Knox CollegePrivate | $49,552 | 7 | $27,000 | Manageable | $28,730 | High |
| #13 | Depaul UniversityPrivate | $49,546 | 27 | $23,168 | Good | $41,563 | High |
| #14 | Saint Louis UniversityPrivate | $48,668 | 11 | $25,000 | Manageable | $34,177 | High |
| #15 | Loyola University ChicagoPrivate | $47,319 | 68 | $24,157 | Manageable | $54,045 | High |
| #16 | $46,976 | 93 | $19,500 | Good | $25,729 | High | |
| #17 | Marquette UniversityPrivate | $43,290 | 23 | $23,940 | Manageable | $45,500 | High |
| #18 | $42,528 | 31 | $21,058 | Manageable | $11,598 | Challenging | |
| #19 | $39,369 | 11 | $21,106 | Manageable | $13,695 | High | |
| #20 | $36,401 | 16 | $20,000 | Challenging | $17,205 | High | |
| #21 | $32,925 | 18 | $22,024 | High | $22,127 | High | |
| #22 | $32,543 | 38 | $21,250 | High | $23,602 | High | |
| #23 | $31,848 | 16 | $21,797 | High | $16,998 | High | |
| #24 | $31,762 | 35 | $24,500 | High | $26,392 | High | |
| #25 | $29,685 | 17 | $24,500 | High | $21,394 | High |
Our program rankings answer: "Which schools have the best outcomes for graduates of this specific major?"
Unlike traditional rankings that measure overall school quality, these rankings focus on program-level outcomes. A school that's #200 overall might have a top-10 nursing program — and that matters if you're studying nursing.
Data based on 2024-2025 Dept of Education reporting standards. Learn about our methodology →
