International/Global Studies at University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame's International/Global Studies graduates earn $69,362 in their first year—nearly double the national median for this major and substantially above Indiana's $47,263 state median. While the debt figure of $24,162 is estimated from similar programs nationally (the actual graduate cohort was too small for the DOE to publish), the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.35 suggests manageable repayment even if the true debt runs somewhat higher.

The earnings premium here is striking. Most International/Global Studies programs struggle to break $40,000 in first-year earnings nationally, making Notre Dame's outcomes exceptional for this field. The university's highly selective admissions and alumni network likely drive these results, turning what's typically a low-earning liberal arts degree into something far more financially viable.

For families concerned about borrowing for a humanities degree, this program offers unusual reassurance. The estimated debt load is modest, and the earning power—if it holds—would allow for comfortable repayment while building career momentum. The risk is whether Notre Dame's prestige can consistently deliver these outcomes for every graduate, rather than being skewed by a few high earners. For students with strong graduate school or international career ambitions, the combination of Notre Dame's reputation and these earnings figures makes this a defensible investment.