International Relations and National Security Studies at Northwest Nazarene University

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 looks manageable on paper, but the underlying numbers tell a more sobering story. Based on national peer programs, first-year earnings around $37,000 paired with $21,500 in debt means your graduate would be earning roughly what many associate degree holders make while carrying a four-year credential's debt burden. The University of Idaho—Idaho's only other program with reported data—shows graduates starting at $30,000, suggesting the local market for international relations degrees may be even tighter than national figures indicate.

What complicates the picture further is that international relations often serves as a gateway to graduate school or competitive federal positions, both of which can take years to materialize. If your child needs their bachelor's degree to generate immediate income, that $37,000 baseline leaves little room for loan payments, living expenses, and saving for next steps. The field itself tends to reward prestigious credentials and connections more than it rewards simply having the degree.

The limited data here—too few graduates for the DOE to publish actual outcomes—should itself factor into your decision. Small cohorts can mean fewer alumni networks and less-established career pipelines. Before committing, you'd want clear answers about internship placements, graduate school acceptance rates, and whether recent alumni are landing the diplomatic, policy, or security roles that justify this investment.