International/Global Studies at Lasell University

Borrowing roughly $24,000 to earn around $47,000 in your first year represents a manageable debt load—assuming these state-level estimates hold true for Lasell's specific outcomes. Massachusetts international studies programs vary dramatically, with top earners at Bentley pulling in $75,000 while others struggle to break $30,000. The $47,000 figure comes from the median of just five Massachusetts programs at similar institutions, placing Lasell's likely outcomes somewhere in the middle of this wide range.

The 0.51 debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates could theoretically pay off loans within six months of gross income, which sounds reasonable on paper. But the real question is whether Lasell's connections, curriculum, and career services can deliver outcomes closer to Boston College's $51,000 than Emmanuel's $30,000. With an 82% admission rate and moderate test scores, this isn't a highly selective program, which typically correlates with more variable career outcomes in broad fields like international studies.

For anxious parents, the key issue is this: you're betting on estimated outcomes derived from peer institutions, not proven track record data from Lasell itself. If your student has clear career plans—nonprofit work, government service, corporate international roles—ask Lasell directly about placement rates and alumni outcomes in those specific paths. The debt level won't sink anyone, but in a field this broad, the school's actual network and internship quality matter more than statewide averages suggest.