International/Global Studies at University of California-Los Angeles

UCLA's International Studies program produces graduates who significantly outperform their peers, but you need to understand what you're paying for. While first-year earnings of $39,000 look modest, they jump 52% by year four to nearly $60,000—a trajectory that puts this program in the 76th percentile nationally and beats the state median by $25,000 at the four-year mark. The debt picture is exceptional: at just $12,000, graduates carry roughly half the debt of typical California International Studies majors, making this one of the lowest-debt options in the UC system.

The challenge is context. Among California's top-tier programs, UCLA sits in the middle of the pack—Berkeley and UC San Diego graduates earn about $15,000 more in their first year. But UCLA's combination of manageable debt and strong earning potential creates a favorable risk profile, especially considering the 9% admission rate signals you're getting access to UCLA's powerful alumni network and brand. The 0.31 debt-to-earnings ratio means your child could realistically pay off loans within months of starting work.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary more than usual. If your child is passionate about international affairs and gets into UCLA, the economics work—just know they're choosing career trajectory and network over immediate earning power.