International Relations and National Security Studies at University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota's International Relations program starts graduates at just $28,596—landing them nearly $9,000 below the national median and in the bottom 14th percentile nationally. That's a tough first year out, well below what parents would hope from a flagship state university charging relatively modest in-state tuition.

Here's the nuance: among Minnesota's nine schools offering this program, UMN sits exactly at the state median. This isn't underperformance relative to local options—it's an indicator that Minnesota's international relations market generally underpays early-career graduates. The more important number is the four-year earnings jump to $46,976, representing 64% growth and pulling graduates above the national median by year four. The $21,167 debt load is reasonable, though the 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio means that first year requires careful budgeting.

The essential question is whether your family can weather those lean early years. If your child plans to pursue graduate school (common in this field) or needs DC/NYC internships to build credentials, having loans during a $28K entry salary could strain finances. But if they can navigate the early career phase—perhaps staying in the Twin Cities where cost of living helps—the trajectory improves substantially. Just understand this isn't a program where a bachelor's degree alone delivers immediate financial comfort.