International/Global Studies at University of Vermont

The small sample size here is crucial context—with fewer than 30 graduates tracked, a handful of individual outcomes can swing these numbers significantly. That said, UVM's international studies program shows a pattern worth examining: graduates start near the national median ($33,757 versus $32,819) but see robust earnings growth to $48,219 by year four, a 43% jump that outpaces typical progression for this degree.

The debt load of $20,500 is reasonable and actually below the national median for this field. The 0.61 debt-to-earnings ratio means students are borrowing about seven months of their first-year salary—manageable territory that becomes even more favorable as earnings climb. Among Vermont's limited options for this major (just two schools offer it statewide), this program sits at the median, though with only one comparison point, that's not particularly meaningful.

International studies graduates typically don't command high starting salaries regardless of school, so comparing this program to engineering or business would miss the point. The real question is whether someone passionate about global affairs can make the economics work. Here, the combination of moderate debt and solid earnings trajectory suggests they can, but the tiny sample means you're essentially betting on a program without much data behind it. If your child is set on this field, the numbers aren't alarming—just understand you're making that decision with limited visibility into typical outcomes.