International Relations and National Security Studies at Immaculata University

Pennsylvania's International Relations programs show dramatic variation, with Bucknell grads earning $77,000 and Lehigh grads starting at $36,000—both with actual reported data. Similar programs in the state typically produce first-year earnings around $49,000, which would put Immaculata somewhere in the middle of this pack, well above the $37,000 national median for this field. That earnings estimate matters because International Relations graduates often enter government, nonprofits, or policy work where starting salaries can be modest, so outperforming the national baseline by 32% is significant.

The estimated $20,125 in debt creates a manageable 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio based on comparable Pennsylvania programs. That's roughly half a year's salary, which should allow for reasonable repayment even if you land in a lower-paying public sector role. The caveat: we're working with estimates here because Immaculata's graduate sample was too small for the Department of Education to report actual outcomes. The school's 78% admission rate and modest test scores suggest it serves a different student population than Bucknell or Penn, so career outcomes could vary based on networking opportunities and employer recognition.

The practical question is whether this program opens doors to the opportunities you want. If your child is targeting federal agencies, think tanks, or graduate school, scrutinize internship placement and alumni networks carefully—that infrastructure matters as much as the credential itself in this field.