International Relations and National Security Studies at Utah Valley University

Starting at $37,200 annually—the national median for international relations degrees—isn't catastrophic, but it's worth noting that Utah's only program with reported outcomes, BYU, produces graduates earning $50,500. That's a $13,000 gap suggesting geographic location and institutional reputation matter considerably in this field. With estimated debt around $22,100, the 0.59 debt-to-earnings ratio falls within manageable territory, though early-career salaries in international relations often require patience as professionals work toward the foreign service positions, intelligence roles, or policy careers that eventually pay better.

The challenge here is that these estimates come from national peer programs rather than UVU's actual outcomes, and in a field where internships, security clearances, and proximity to Washington D.C. or international organizations heavily influence job prospects, being in Orem creates particular placement questions. International relations graduates typically need either graduate school to become competitive or strategic networking to break into their target sectors—neither of which shows up in first-year earnings data. The field rewards persistence and additional credentials more than many bachelor's programs.

For parents, the key question is whether your student has a concrete path beyond graduation—whether that's Peace Corps service, a planned master's degree, or established connections in security studies. This isn't necessarily a poor investment at these debt levels, but success in international relations depends heavily on post-graduation strategy, not just the degree itself.