International Relations and National Security Studies at Idaho State University

The debt burden here looks manageable—peer programs nationally suggest around $22,000, which translates to a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.59. That's reasonable territory for a bachelor's degree, though the estimated first-year salary of $37,000 means graduates will need to budget carefully in those early years. What's worth noting is that Idaho State's program appears competitive with what University of Idaho graduates earn ($30,261), suggesting this smaller program may offer similar employment outcomes at comparable or potentially lower cost.

The challenge with International Relations degrees is they often serve as gateways to graduate school or government positions that require additional credentials. If your student plans to continue directly to grad school, that initial debt becomes the foundation of a larger total. But if they're targeting entry-level federal positions or policy work that values the bachelor's alone, similar programs nationally produce outcomes that make the investment workable—just not lucrative in the short term.

With only four programs in Idaho and suppressed data indicating small cohorts, this field isn't heavily represented in the state. That could mean limited local networking opportunities or, alternatively, less competition for regional positions. The key question is whether your student has a clear path for using this degree—internships lined up, language skills being developed, or specific agencies in mind—because the field rewards those who treat college as active career preparation rather than general exploration.