International Relations and National Security Studies at Lafayette College

Lafayette's International Relations program produces exceptional outcomes—starting salaries of $58,433 place graduates in the 95th percentile nationally, crushing the typical $37,198 for this major. The debt load of just $16,620 is remarkably low (below 90% of similar programs), creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.28 that means graduates can manage repayment comfortably even in traditionally lower-paying policy and government work. Within Pennsylvania, this program lands in the middle of the pack, trailing Bucknell and Penn but significantly outpacing most competitors, which makes sense given Lafayette's selective admissions and strong alumni network in government and consulting.

The caveat here is sample size—fewer than 30 recent graduates means these numbers could shift substantially year to year. Small cohorts in niche majors often reflect self-selection effects: motivated students headed to competitive internships and grad schools may skew the data upward. Still, even accounting for statistical noise, the fundamentals look solid. Earnings grow 11% by year four, and the minimal debt means financial risk is contained even if your student ends up in a lower-paying public sector role.

For families comfortable with Lafayette's price tag and confident their child will actively pursue internships and networking opportunities, this program delivers strong returns. The combination of low debt and high early earnings creates unusual financial flexibility for a liberal arts major.