International Relations and National Security Studies at Methodist University

Based on comparable programs nationally, Methodist's International Relations and Security Studies degree produces estimated first-year earnings of $37,198—right at the national median for this field. That puts graduates roughly on par with peers from similar programs, but it's worth noting that even the top quartile of programs nationally only pushes earnings to around $45,000. For a bachelor's degree, these are modest returns regardless of where you study.

The estimated $21,500 debt load keeps the debt-to-earnings ratio at 0.58, which is manageable territory. A graduate could reasonably expect to repay federal loans within the standard 10-year timeline without crushing monthly payments. However, Methodist serves a substantial population of Pell-eligible students (39%), and families in that position should recognize that this program appears to lead toward public sector or nonprofit work rather than high-paying corporate positions. The field itself—not just this school—tends toward lower compensation.

What makes this situation particularly uncertain is that both the earnings and debt figures are national estimates, used because Methodist's graduate cohort was too small to report. Without actual outcomes from this specific program, you're essentially betting that Methodist's career network, location near Fort Bragg, and curriculum will produce results similar to the national average. For families counting on specific employment outcomes, that's a significant leap of faith when you could potentially find schools with proven track records.