International Relations and National Security Studies at Duquesne University

Duquesne's international relations program starts graduates at $39,630—above the national median but significantly below what similar programs deliver across Pennsylvania. Among 32 Pennsylvania schools offering this degree, Duquesne ranks in just the 25th percentile for earnings, with the state median at $49,032. That $10,000 gap is substantial, especially when considering that schools like Bucknell and Penn place graduates at nearly double Duquesne's outcomes. The program does beat the national average, but when most students attend college in-state, the Pennsylvania comparison matters more.

The trajectory shows promise: earnings jump 42% to $56,192 by year four, suggesting the degree opens doors that take time to unlock. The debt burden is genuinely manageable at $26,113, landing in the 5th percentile nationally—meaning 95% of similar programs leave students with more debt. That 0.66 debt-to-earnings ratio is workable, and relatively low debt gives graduates flexibility to pursue government or nonprofit careers that this field often leads toward.

The small sample size (under 30 graduates) is a red flag you can't ignore. These numbers could shift dramatically with just a few more data points. For parents willing to bet on that earnings growth curve, this program offers reasonable debt with clear upward momentum. But if your child has admission offers from other Pennsylvania schools, you'll want to understand why this program underperforms the state median by such a wide margin.