International Relations and National Security Studies at Roosevelt University

The $37,938 estimated starting salary for this program sits right at the state median but masks significant variation across Illinois schools—Northwestern's graduates earn over 50% more, while DePaul and Loyola come in below this figure. With Roosevelt's open admission profile and modest test scores, the actual outcomes for this particular program could skew toward either end of that spectrum. The debt load of roughly $21,375, drawn from similar Illinois programs, translates to a manageable 0.56 debt-to-earnings ratio, suggesting monthly payments around $240 on a standard plan—doable on nearly $38,000 annually, though hardly comfortable in Chicago.

What matters most here is Roosevelt's urban setting and the practical experience opportunities that come with it. International relations careers often require graduate education or competitive internships to gain traction, and Chicago offers access to consulates, NGOs, and international businesses that can make or break early career momentum. The question isn't whether the degree itself provides good value—the debt burden is reasonable by national standards—but whether your child will actively leverage the location and build the resume needed to avoid the lower end of the salary range. This field rewards hustle and connections more than the credential alone, so success depends heavily on what they do beyond coursework during those four years.