International/Global Studies at University of Maryland-Baltimore County

UMBC's International/Global Studies graduates earn $49,115 in their first year—putting them in the top 5% nationally for this major, where the typical graduate earns just $33,000. That's a substantial premium over what most students can expect from this degree elsewhere. However, the state comparison is less useful here: with only four Maryland schools offering this program, UMBC represents the state median by default.

The debt picture looks manageable at $20,258, translating to a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio—well below the concerning 1.0 threshold. While this is slightly higher debt than typical for global studies programs nationally, the stronger earnings more than compensate. Your child would likely face monthly loan payments around $225, which should be sustainable on a $49,000 salary.

The major caveat: this data reflects fewer than 30 graduates, so individual outcomes could vary significantly. One or two high earners could be skewing these numbers upward. That said, UMBC's relatively accessible admission profile (74% acceptance rate, moderate SAT scores) combined with these earnings suggests the program may offer strong career support or industry connections. For families comfortable with some statistical uncertainty, this appears to deliver considerably better outcomes than most international studies programs—just don't assume these results are guaranteed.