International/Global Studies at University of North Texas

UNT's International/Global Studies program starts slowly but shows strong momentum, with earnings jumping 41% over four years—reaching $43,295 by year four. That trajectory matters more than the modest $30,621 starting salary, though it's worth noting this program ranks only in the 25th percentile among Texas schools, trailing the state median by nearly $6,000 initially.

The debt picture offers some reassurance: at $21,033, graduates carry manageable loans with a healthy 0.69 debt-to-earnings ratio. Within four years, the median salary climbs to a level that makes repayment substantially easier. However, even at that four-year mark, UNT graduates still earn roughly $7,000 less than peers from UT Austin or Texas A&M who started in similar programs, suggesting the gap never fully closes despite the growth rate.

For families prioritizing affordability and access at a public university, UNT delivers reasonable value—you're not looking at crushing debt, and career earnings do improve significantly. But if your student has admission options at Texas's flagship institutions, those programs demonstrate meaningfully higher earning potential from day one. This program works best for students who need UNT's lower barrier to entry and can weather a slower financial start.