International Relations and National Security Studies at University of Cincinnati-Main Campus

At $32,543, UC's International Relations program earns about $5,000 less than peer programs in Ohio and trails the national median by even more. That gap matters when you're starting a career in a field where government entry-level positions and nonprofit work dominate early earnings. The program does rank at the 40th percentile among Ohio schools—so it's not an outlier locally—but compare this to Miami or Ohio State, where graduates are pulling $38,000+. That $6,000 difference compounds significantly over the early career years when you're building experience and paying down debt.

The debt picture offers some relief: $25,625 is manageable and puts students in a better position than most International Relations programs nationally (11th percentile for debt). The 0.79 debt-to-earnings ratio means graduates should be able to handle repayment, though first-year budgets will be tight. For context, International Relations typically doesn't lead to high early earnings—it's a field where graduate degrees, security clearances, or years of experience drive meaningful salary growth.

If your child is set on this field and UC offers in-state tuition or scholarships that keep costs down, it's workable. But if they're paying full out-of-state rates or taking on significantly more debt, Ohio State or Miami deliver better earning potential with similar debt loads. This is a program where keeping total debt below $25,000 matters more than which Ohio school issues the diploma.