International/Global Studies at Drexel University

Drexel's International Studies program shows some of the strongest financial outcomes in Pennsylvania, but you're making this decision based on data from fewer than 30 graduates—a sample size that could swing dramatically with just a few different career paths. That said, what we can see is striking: graduates earn $40,189 right out of college, ranking in the 80th percentile among Pennsylvania programs where the median is just $30,813. By year four, earnings jump to $65,148, a 62% increase that suggests graduates are successfully pivoting into higher-paying international business or policy roles.

The debt picture looks manageable at $29,046—substantially lower than what you'd typically see at a private university of Drexel's caliber. With a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72, graduates owe less than a year's starting salary, and that ratio only improves as earnings climb. Compare this to the national median for International Studies programs ($32,819 first-year earnings with $21,966 in debt), and you're looking at significantly higher earning potential with only moderately higher debt.

The caveat matters here: small samples can mislead. But if these numbers hold, this program delivers better outcomes than nearby alternatives at Temple or Arcadia while taking on debt levels that ambitious graduates can reasonably manage, especially given the strong earnings trajectory.