International Relations and National Security Studies at Temple University

Temple's International Relations program appears positioned at the stronger end of what this field typically delivers. Based on comparable programs in Pennsylvania, graduates can expect around $49,000 in first-year earnings—roughly $12,000 above the national median for this major. That puts Temple closer to the middle tier of Pennsylvania schools than the elite private institutions like Penn or Bucknell, but substantially ahead of what most IR programs produce nationally.

The estimated $22,000 debt load translates to a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary. For context, peer programs nationally carry similar debt burdens (around $21,600 median), so this tracks with the broader pattern for the field. At these figures, monthly loan payments would consume roughly 7-8% of take-home pay on a standard repayment plan—tight but workable for someone entering the workforce.

The caveat: these are estimates derived from similar programs, not actual outcomes tracked for Temple's IR graduates specifically. The program's small graduate cohort means the Department of Education suppresses its data. Given Temple's accessibility (83% admission rate, 30% Pell recipients) and Philadelphia's proximity to government and nonprofit employers, the state median estimate seems reasonable. Your child would be entering a field where six-figure outcomes are rare outside elite schools, but where a dedicated graduate can build a viable career path without crushing debt.