International Relations and National Security Studies at Harvey Mudd College

Harvey Mudd College rarely offers programs outside STEM, making this International Relations degree an outlier at one of the nation's most selective technical colleges. The estimated first-year earnings of $36,669 align almost exactly with California's median for this field, but that figure raises questions for a school with a 13% admission rate and average SAT scores of 1537—credentials that typically correlate with much stronger outcomes. For context, Stanford's IR graduates earn $76,000 in their first year, while USC's earn $52,000. The debt load of roughly $20,800 appears manageable, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio that sits comfortably below 1.0.

The challenge here is understanding what you're actually getting. Harvey Mudd's strength lies in its engineering and science programs, where employers pay premium salaries for graduates from elite technical institutions. Whether that institutional reputation translates to International Relations—a field where connections, internships, and graduate school often matter more than undergraduate prestige—is unclear. The estimated figures suggest outcomes no better than the typical California IR program, which seems modest given the difficulty of admission.

If your child is passionate about international affairs and drawn to Mudd's unique culture, the debt burden won't be crushing. But recognize you're relying on estimates from peer programs, not actual outcomes, and this particular major doesn't appear to leverage Mudd's primary advantage in the marketplace.