International/Global Studies at California State University-Long Beach

Cal State Long Beach's International/Global Studies program delivers one clear advantage: remarkably low debt. At just over $15,000, graduates carry about 70% less debt than the typical program nationwide—placing this in the 95th percentile for affordability. For a family watching costs carefully, that's meaningful protection against downside risk. The program serves a predominantly middle-class student body (49% receive Pell grants) and maintains that accessibility in its debt profile.

The tradeoff comes in first-year earnings. At $31,589, graduates earn about $2,700 below California's median for this major and fall short of what peers at nearby UC schools command. However, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.49 means graduates need to dedicate less than half their first-year salary to debt—a manageable burden that many International Studies programs don't achieve. The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) suggests these figures are reasonably reliable, though not based on hundreds of data points.

For families prioritizing debt avoidance over maximum earning potential, this represents a rational choice—especially for students who may pursue graduate school or careers in the nonprofit/government sectors common to this field. You're essentially trading $2,000-3,000 in first-year earnings for $6,500 less in debt compared to the national baseline. That math works, particularly if your student values the CSU system's location and resources without the financial exposure of pricier alternatives.