International/Global Studies at College of Charleston

College of Charleston's International Studies program delivers surprisingly strong outcomes relative to South Carolina alternatives, though it starts from a rocky foundation. That $25,764 first-year salary ranks dead last nationally (10th percentile) but represents the median for this degree in South Carolina—suggesting statewide challenges in launching international studies careers rather than program-specific weakness. The debt load of $17,750 is below the national median for this field, creating a manageable 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio.

What changes the calculus here is the trajectory: earnings jump 48% to $38,167 by year four, reaching the national 75th percentile for this degree. That's substantial real-world salary growth that transforms what looks like a questionable investment into something more defensible. For an anxious parent, this means your child likely needs a financial cushion or side income for those lean first years, but the program appears to prepare graduates for career advancement that many peer programs don't deliver.

The moderate sample size (30-100 graduates) means individual outcomes vary more than with larger programs. If your student has concrete language skills, regional expertise, or graduate school plans that leverage this degree, the eventual earnings growth justifies the initial struggle. Without that clear next step, the difficult first year becomes harder to stomach.