International Relations and National Security Studies at Rider University

With only six schools offering this major in New Jersey, peer programs suggest a challenging first-year reality: approximately $37,000 in earnings against $21,500 in debt. That's actually slightly below what similar programs at other New Jersey schools typically produce—the state median sits at $40,000—though Rider's estimated debt load runs a bit lower than the state average of $24,000. The 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory, meaning graduates could theoretically allocate a reasonable portion of income to loan payments, but the modest starting salary leaves little cushion for the lifestyle adjustments many new graduates face.

The comparison to Seton Hall's $45,000 outcomes raises questions about whether Rider's program connects students to the same career networks in international affairs, policy work, or government roles. International relations is notoriously field-dependent—some graduates leverage it into solid federal jobs or competitive graduate programs, while others struggle to translate the degree into immediate earning power. Without actual outcomes data specific to Rider, you're essentially betting that their program performs at least as well as the national average for this major.

For families concerned about return on investment, the lack of reported data is itself information: either the program is quite small or graduate outcomes haven't been strong enough to appear in federal tracking. Before committing, directly ask Rider's career services for concrete placement data—where recent graduates actually work and what they earn—not just testimonials.