International Relations and National Security Studies at Portland State University

Portland State's International Relations program sits in an unusual position: it performs solidly among Oregon schools (60th percentile) but trails the national median by nearly $7,000 in first-year earnings. With graduates earning $30,253 initially, this creates a challenging start, though the debt load of $24,250 is actually below what similar programs typically charge. The 0.80 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates face roughly 10 months of pre-tax income in debt—manageable, but paired with below-average starting salaries, it may extend the time needed to achieve financial stability.

The earnings trajectory offers modest encouragement, with income rising 11% to $33,528 by year four. However, even with this growth, graduates remain well below the national median for this field. The real question is opportunity cost: international relations often serves as a gateway to graduate school or federal work, but those pathways typically require either additional credentials (and debt) or relocation from Portland. For students planning to stay in the Northwest immediately after graduation without pursuing additional degrees, these numbers warrant serious consideration against other options.

If your child is committed to this field and plans to attend graduate school anyway, PSU's lower debt load compared to peer programs provides some advantage. But if they're expecting the bachelor's degree alone to launch a sustainable career, the below-average earnings suggest exploring either different programs at PSU or different schools for this major.