International Relations and National Security Studies at Bob Jones University

A $21,500 debt load against first-year earnings around $37,000 creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58—comfortably below the concerning threshold of 1.0. Since Bob Jones lacks the graduate sample size for the Department of Education to publish specific outcomes, these figures draw from national medians for similar International Relations programs. What this tells you practically: monthly loan payments would consume roughly 10-12% of gross income on a standard repayment plan, leaving room to cover living expenses in most markets.

The estimated earnings fall slightly below what South Carolina's other International Relations programs produce (the state median is $38,520), though they're in line with the national typical outcome. Wofford College graduates report earning $43,428—about $6,000 more annually—but you'd need to weigh that premium against differences in total cost of attendance and institutional fit. The real risk here isn't crippling debt, but rather the general challenge facing liberal arts majors: international relations degrees often require graduate school or strategic internship networking to access careers that justify the investment.

For families considering this path, the debt burden appears sustainable, but focus on whether your student has a specific career vision beyond "working in international affairs." Without concrete plans for diplomatic testing, security clearances, or graduate programs in policy or law, this major can lead to general office work at these salary levels. The financial picture is reasonable; the career clarity matters more.