International/Global Studies at University of Arizona

The University of Arizona's International/Global Studies program starts graduates at just $27,416—about $10,000 below what ASU's campuses deliver and nearly $15,000 under national averages for this major. While earnings do climb 57% to nearly $43,000 by year four, that initial salary means new graduates face a challenging start, particularly with $25,000 in debt requiring careful budgeting during those lean early years.

The small sample size here (under 30 graduates tracked) makes these numbers less reliable than most program data, so they should prompt questions rather than conclusions. It's worth asking the university directly about typical career paths and whether most graduates pursue graduate school, which could explain the lower initial earnings if many are working part-time while continuing their education. The field itself tends toward lower starting salaries nationwide, but this program lands in just the 18th percentile nationally and 25th within Arizona.

For families counting on immediate financial independence after graduation, these numbers suggest caution. The strong earnings growth is encouraging, but year one will be tight. If your child is passionate about international affairs and sees this as a stepping stone to graduate school or international careers that take time to build, the trajectory makes more sense—just plan for financial support during that first year or two.