International Relations and National Security Studies at Rollins College

Rollins graduates in this program start with modest earnings—$28,113 a year after graduation—landing in just the 13th percentile nationally and slightly below the Florida median. While there's dramatic growth over four years (up 89% to $53,145), the initial debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.96 means graduates are spending their entire first-year salary just to match what they owe, making early financial stability challenging.

Within Florida's competitive landscape, this picture becomes more nuanced. Rollins sits at the 40th percentile statewide but lags significantly behind top performers like Embry-Riddle ($46,868) and larger public universities. The $27,000 debt load, though higher than Florida's typical $18,250 for this major, remains relatively manageable compared to national averages. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) makes these figures less reliable—individual career outcomes can skew results dramatically at this scale.

For families paying private school tuition at Rollins, the financial return in this field appears weak compared to alternatives. The four-year earnings jump suggests career advancement potential, but starting nearly $10,000 below the national median creates real near-term pressure. Unless your student has compelling reasons to choose Rollins specifically—strong faculty connections, particular research opportunities, or robust career services in international affairs—Florida's public universities offer better value in this major with similar or superior outcomes at lower cost.