International Relations and National Security Studies at Mary Baldwin University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.48 suggests manageable borrowing, but the real question is whether Mary Baldwin's program can deliver outcomes that justify even this moderate debt load. Peer programs across Virginia typically produce first-year earnings around $44,600—notably higher than the national median of $37,200 for this field—though that state figure reflects outcomes from much larger institutions like UVA and William & Mary rather than smaller colleges with similar student populations.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With nearly half the student body receiving Pell grants, affordability matters deeply, yet we're working entirely from estimates because too few graduates exist to generate actual outcome data. The comparable state programs operate at very different scales and may attract different employment opportunities through their size and networks. International relations degrees often serve as pathways to graduate school or government work that takes time to materialize, meaning first-year earnings tell an incomplete story.

If your child is genuinely passionate about this field and Mary Baldwin offers the mentorship and connections that smaller programs can provide, the estimated debt level won't be crushing. But understand you're making this decision without the hard evidence you'd want—no way to verify whether this specific program actually delivers the Virginia-typical outcomes or falls short. If the choice comes down to Mary Baldwin versus a larger state school with proven track records in this major, the transparent data argues for the known quantity.