International/Global Studies at The University of Texas at Arlington

Starting at less than $30,000 a year puts UT Arlington's International/Global Studies graduates well below their peers—this program ranks in just the 25th percentile among Texas schools, where the typical grad earns $36,305. That's a $7,000 gap that compounds over time. The debt load of $25,028 isn't extreme in absolute terms, but paired with such low initial earnings, it creates real financial strain in those critical first years after graduation. Compare this to UT Austin's program, where grads start at $42,701, or even Texas State at $37,397.

The caveat here matters: with fewer than 30 graduates in the data, we might be seeing an unrepresentative snapshot rather than the program's true outcomes. Perhaps these particular graduates pursued nonprofit work or graduate school rather than immediate employment in higher-paying sectors. Still, when every comparable Texas program shows stronger first-year earnings, that's hard to dismiss as statistical noise.

If your child is set on international studies, they'd likely see better financial outcomes at other Texas public universities. At minimum, they should understand they're choosing this path for passion rather than payoff, and plan accordingly—whether that means minimizing debt, securing internships that lead to higher-paying roles, or preparing for graduate school where global studies credentials carry more weight.