International Relations and National Security Studies at Regis College

Looking at similar International Relations programs in Massachusetts, graduates typically earn around $45,870 in their first year—a figure that places these programs near the national 75th percentile for the field. With estimated debt of $21,125, Regis College's program appears positioned in line with other Massachusetts schools, suggesting a debt burden of roughly half the first-year salary.

That debt-to-earnings picture is manageable by most standards, particularly compared to the broader national landscape where many International Relations graduates earn closer to $37,000. The challenge lies in what happens beyond that first year. This field often requires graduate education or extended networking to reach higher-earning positions in diplomacy, intelligence, or policy work. Programs at schools like Tufts demonstrate the ceiling in this region ($54,000), but the variation among Massachusetts programs is substantial.

For parents weighing this investment, the estimated numbers suggest reasonable initial outcomes, but remember these figures come from peer institutions rather than Regis-specific data. The real question is whether your student plans to pursue graduate school or has clear entry points into international organizations—without those pathways, a $45,000 starting salary in expensive Massachusetts means tight margins even with moderate debt.