International Relations and National Security Studies at Union Adventist University

At $37,198 in first-year earnings, this International Relations program—drawing on national benchmarks from similar bachelor's programs—lands right at the median for the field. That's neither impressive nor alarming on its face, but it means graduates are entering a competitive job market where half their peers elsewhere are earning more. The estimated $21,500 debt load, also derived from comparable institutions, translates to a 0.58 debt-to-earnings ratio, which sits in manageable territory if those first-year salaries hold steady.

The concern here isn't the numbers themselves but what they reveal about career trajectory. International Relations graduates often need graduate degrees or security clearances to access higher-paying roles, meaning this bachelor's degree may function more as a stepping stone than a destination credential. With Union Adventist's open admission policy serving a more accessible student population, families should ask whether their student has the financial runway and career clarity to leverage this degree effectively. If graduate school is the plan, that $21,500 will compound; if immediate employment is the goal, $37,000 doesn't leave much margin for error in a city like Lincoln.

The practical takeaway: This program mirrors national norms for an international relations degree, but those norms aren't particularly robust at the bachelor's level. Make sure your student has a specific plan—internships, language skills, security clearance pathways, or graduate school preparation—because the degree alone won't differentiate them in this field.