International Relations and National Security Studies at Earlham College

A $21,500 debt load for a degree that peers nationally suggest will yield around $37,000 in first-year earnings positions this program squarely in the middle of what's typical for International Relations graduates. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 means graduates would owe roughly seven months of their starting salary—a manageable burden by most standards, though hardly a bargain given the field's modest earning potential.

What's worth noting is how compressed earnings are in this field overall. Even top-performing programs nationally only push median first-year earnings to $45,000, and Indiana's in-state programs cluster tightly around $36,000-$37,000. This suggests the field itself—not the specific institution—sets the financial ceiling. International Relations is notoriously competitive for well-paying positions, and many graduates spend years in lower-paid nonprofit, government, or think tank roles before their earnings accelerate.

The real question is whether your child has a clear career path that requires this degree. If they're passionate about diplomacy or security policy and willing to invest in graduate education later (which many in this field ultimately need), the modest debt here won't be catastrophic. But if they're exploring broadly or uncertain about their direction, they'll be committing to a credential with limited immediate earning power based on what comparable programs typically produce.