International Relations and National Security Studies at University of St Thomas

A debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.58 is solid territory for a liberal arts bachelor's degree, though the underlying numbers tell a more complicated story. Based on comparable programs nationally, graduates can expect to earn around $37,000 in their first year—roughly on par with the national median for this field—while carrying an estimated $21,500 in debt. That's manageable relative to starting salary, but the absolute earnings figure is modest for a four-year degree, especially considering Minnesota's cost of living in the Twin Cities metro area.

The more unsettling comparison comes from within Minnesota itself. Similar programs at other state schools, including the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, report first-year earnings around $28,600—nearly $9,000 less than the national benchmark. Whether St. Thomas graduates would follow the national pattern or the Minnesota pattern is impossible to know without actual outcome data from this program. International relations degrees often require graduate school or specific career pivots (government work, nonprofits, private sector roles that value the analytical skills) to reach higher earning potential, so that first-year figure may not capture the full trajectory.

The financing looks reasonable if outcomes track closer to national norms, but if this program performs more like other Minnesota schools in the field, you're looking at a tighter margin between debt and earnings. Before committing, verify whether St. Thomas has placement data or career outcomes they can share directly—particularly regarding what fields graduates actually enter and whether they're staying in Minnesota or going elsewhere for opportunities.