International Relations and National Security Studies at St. John Fisher University

Borrowing roughly $24,000 to earn $36,754 in your first year creates a workable but tight financial situation for International Relations graduates. Based on comparable programs across New York, this debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.65 sits in reasonable territory—not alarming, but leaving little margin for error if first-year earnings fall short or if students need additional borrowing for living expenses during school.

The estimated first-year salary aligns precisely with New York's median for this field, placing St. John Fisher squarely in the middle of the pack. What's worth noting is the range: top programs like Fordham ($46,653) and Hamilton ($45,332) show that International Relations graduates in New York can earn significantly more, suggesting that institutional reputation and alumni networks materially affect outcomes in this prestige-sensitive field. The $10,000 gap between typical and top-performing programs represents real money when you're managing student loan payments.

For families considering this path, the critical question is career trajectory. International Relations often serves as a launching pad for graduate school or government work where early earnings don't tell the full story. If your child has a clear plan for the degree—specific agencies, NGOs, or grad programs they're targeting—and St. John Fisher's location in Rochester provides relevant internship access, the modest debt load won't strangle those ambitions. Without that strategic clarity, however, the field's relatively modest starting salaries make this a questionable investment compared to more immediately marketable majors.