Is Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey Worth It?

Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey is a graduate-focused school, and its numbers reflect that. The $76,310 median earnings ten years out sits above what most undergraduate-only schools produce, and the median debt of $13,857 is low. That combination points to a solid financial return, but with a heavy caveat about what you're actually buying here.

The only undergraduate program with reported earnings, International Relations and National Security Studies, pays about $55,964 a year. That's roughly $20,000 below the school-wide median, which tells you the higher earnings come from graduate degrees, not the bachelor's track. If you're coming here for undergraduate study, plan around the $56K figure, not the $76K one. Don't treat the school-wide median as your expected paycheck if you're a bachelor's student.

The specific risk here is the field itself. International relations and national security work concentrates in government, NGOs, and policy roles, which pay modestly and cluster in expensive coastal and capital markets. Monterey and the broader California job market carry a high cost of living, so a $56K salary stretches thin locally. The degree points you toward a narrow set of employers.

This school fits you if you want a career in international policy, security, or translation and you're willing to relocate for the right role. The low median debt means you likely won't be buried, which softens the risk of a modest starting salary. Look elsewhere if you want a broad undergraduate education or a direct path to high-paying private-sector work.

On net price, the low Pell share means few students here come from the lowest-income brackets, so this is a school where middle- and higher-income families predominate. Check the net price tiers for your income band directly, since aid varies sharply across them.