International Relations and National Security Studies at Rhodes College

Rhodes College's International Relations program starts graduates at just $23,835—barely above minimum wage for full-time work—which ranks in the bottom 5% nationally for this degree. While the 60th percentile ranking within Tennessee sounds better, it's misleading: Tennessee programs in this field perform so poorly that being middle-of-the-pack in-state still means being near the bottom nationally. The debt load of $22,072 isn't catastrophic, but it equals nearly a full year's initial salary, creating immediate financial stress for graduates.

The dramatic earnings jump to $49,269 by year four offers some hope, suggesting graduates eventually find their footing in policy work, government roles, or graduate school. However, this recovery period means several years of financial constraint right when young adults typically need to establish independence. Given Rhodes' 50% admission rate and relatively strong academic profile (1385 SAT average), students here likely have options at schools where this degree leads to stronger initial placement.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes vary widely. If your child has specific career goals requiring this degree—foreign service, intelligence work, think tanks—the eventual earnings might justify the rough start. But for most families, this combination of rock-bottom starting salary and years-long recovery suggests looking at schools where IR graduates launch into better-paying positions immediately, or reconsidering the major altogether.