International Relations and National Security Studies at University of Akron Main Campus

A bachelor's in International Relations from Akron estimates $35,564 in first-year earnings with $25,500 in debt—figures drawn from the handful of similar programs across Ohio that have sufficient graduates to report. That debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.72 sits in manageable territory, but the earnings estimate trails both the national median ($37,198) and what Ohio's flagship universities are producing for their International Relations graduates.

The challenge here isn't just the numbers—it's what they represent. Programs like Miami University and Ohio State report earnings above $38,000 for their International Relations grads, suggesting that institutional resources and recruiting networks matter considerably in this field. Akron's 71% admission rate and profile indicate a different tier of resources, which likely translates to fewer direct pathways into competitive federal or international positions that typically drive higher earnings in this major. The $25,500 debt estimate actually exceeds the national median for this degree, meaning you'd be paying slightly more for outcomes that appear below average.

For parents weighing this investment, the core question is whether Akron offers specific advantages—faculty connections, internship pipelines, or geographic convenience—that offset what peer program data suggests about earnings potential. Without those concrete differentiators, comparable programs at Ohio's research universities show clearer pathways to the jobs that justify this degree's cost.