International Relations and National Security Studies at Meredith College

A debt load of $21,500 against first-year earnings around $37,000 creates a manageable 0.58 ratio—below the concerning 1.0 threshold where debt exceeds annual income. However, these figures come from peer programs nationally, not Meredith's specific outcomes, so there's inherent uncertainty about whether this college's graduates will match these benchmarks. The estimated earnings place graduates roughly at the national median for international relations majors, suggesting neither a premium nor a penalty compared to similar programs elsewhere.

The real challenge lies in the field itself rather than the school. International relations careers often require graduate degrees or Washington connections to reach higher-paying positions, meaning that $37,000 figure may represent just the beginning of a longer educational investment. The relatively accessible admission profile at Meredith (75% acceptance rate) suggests this isn't primarily a credential-driven premium program, so students would be relying heavily on internships, networking, and potentially further education to differentiate themselves in a competitive field.

Given the estimation-based data, focus less on these specific numbers and more on whether your student has a clear path forward. Do they have concrete government, nonprofit, or defense sector contacts? Are they prepared financially and academically for likely graduate school? Without actual outcomes data from Meredith graduates in this program, you're making a bet that their experience will mirror national trends—reasonable, but not guaranteed.