International Relations and National Security Studies at McKendree University

Based on comparable International Relations programs in Illinois, McKendree's estimated outcomes align almost exactly with state medians—around $38,000 in first-year earnings against roughly $21,000 in debt. That 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio sits in manageable territory, though it's worth noting that similar programs across Illinois show considerable variation, from Northwestern's $58,000 outcomes down to the low $30,000s at larger Chicago universities.

The real challenge here is what these earnings mean for career trajectory. International Relations graduates often enter public sector, nonprofit, or early-stage foreign service roles where salaries start modest but can grow significantly with experience and specialization. The estimated debt load won't be crushing on a $38,000 salary, but it does mean several years of careful budgeting unless your child plans to pursue graduate credentials or pivot into private sector work where starting salaries climb higher.

What makes this difficult to assess confidently is that we're working entirely from peer program estimates—McKendree's actual graduate outcomes remain unpublished due to small cohort sizes. If your child is serious about this field, compare what McKendree specifically offers in terms of DC connections, internship pipelines, or language training against schools with reported data. The estimated numbers suggest a viable path, but those program-specific advantages could make the difference between launching a career and struggling to find traction.