International Relations and National Security Studies at University of Miami

University of Miami's International Relations program produces outcomes that mirror the Florida median but trail the national benchmark by about $5,400 in first-year earnings. The modest debt load of $17,250—well below both state and national averages—provides important cushion during those early career years when grads earn around $32,000. However, the small sample size (under 30 graduates) means a few outliers could be skewing these numbers significantly in either direction.

The earnings trajectory tells an encouraging story: graduates see their income jump 78% by year four, reaching $56,480. That growth rate suggests these degrees open doors that take time to walk through—typical for international relations careers where entry-level positions in nonprofits or government agencies give way to better-compensated roles with experience. At a highly selective school (19% admission rate), students are likely building valuable networks that pay off in later career stages.

The value calculation here depends heavily on whether your student needs federal aid. With only 15% of students receiving Pell grants and Miami's full sticker price approaching $80,000 annually, the actual debt burden could be substantially higher than this median suggests. If your family qualifies for significant need-based aid or your student can graduate with debt near this $17,250 figure, the combination of reasonable borrowing and strong earnings growth makes this manageable. Without aid, though, the early-career salary won't justify the investment.