International/Global Studies at University of California-Riverside

UC Riverside's International Studies program shows unusually low first-year earnings of just $21,428—landing in the 10th percentile among California programs and well below the state median of $34,246. That's roughly $13,000 less than what graduates from similar programs at other UC schools typically earn initially. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these figures could swing significantly with just a few data points, so they may not reflect the typical graduate's experience.

The dramatic 93% earnings jump to $41,292 by year four is encouraging and eventually surpasses both state and national medians, suggesting the degree provides valuable skills that take time to monetize in the job market. The $20,500 debt load is actually below California's median for this major and creates a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio near 1:1. Given that nearly half of UCR students receive Pell grants, many graduates may carry even less debt than this figure suggests.

The caveat here matters significantly: with so few graduates tracked, these numbers might not represent what your child would actually experience. If your student is considering this path, reach out to the department directly to understand typical career outcomes and why first-year earnings appear so low. The program could be strong but simply have a small cohort, or graduates might be pursuing opportunities like Peace Corps or graduate school that temporarily suppress earnings.