International Relations and National Security Studies at Emmanuel College

Based on comparable programs across Massachusetts, Emmanuel's International Relations degree appears to position graduates near the middle of the state's range, with estimated first-year earnings around $45,870—significantly above the national median of $37,198 for this field. That said, the estimated $21,125 in debt means graduates would be carrying roughly 46% of their first-year salary in loans, a manageable but not trivial burden that would require careful budgeting in those early career years.

The challenge with International Relations is that it's a field where outcomes vary dramatically by what students do next. The gap between top-tier programs like Tufts ($54,000) and others in Massachusetts suggests that career services, alumni networks, and internship pipelines matter enormously. Emmanuel's 81% admission rate and solid SAT scores indicate a reasonably selective environment, but without actual graduate data for this specific program, it's difficult to know whether students are landing the competitive government, NGO, or private sector roles that justify the investment.

For families considering this program, the key question is whether your student has a clear career path in mind—think specific agencies, policy areas, or graduate school plans—rather than a general interest in global affairs. The estimated debt load is reasonable if the degree becomes a stepping stone to those concrete opportunities, but less so if it's exploratory.