International Relations and National Security Studies at Marquette University

Marquette's International Relations program outpaces both national and state medians, with graduates earning $43,290 in their first year—about $3,000 more than the Wisconsin median and $6,000 above the national figure. That 69th percentile national ranking suggests this program delivers stronger career preparation than most of its peers. At $20,750, the debt burden sits slightly below state and national medians, creating a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5.

However, the small sample size here matters. With fewer than 30 graduates in the data, a handful of particularly successful (or struggling) alumni could skew these numbers significantly. International Relations is also a field where many graduates pursue graduate school or enter relatively modest-paying public service roles initially, so these first-year earnings may not capture the full picture of career trajectories.

For families comfortable with the uncertainty inherent in limited data, Marquette appears to be outperforming most Wisconsin alternatives in this field. The combination of above-average earnings and below-average debt makes this a reasonable option if your student is committed to this career path and values the Jesuit education model. Just recognize that with International Relations, networking and internships often matter as much as the degree itself.