International Relations and National Security Studies at Vassar College

Vassar's International Relations and National Security Studies program shows a puzzling pattern: graduates start well below both national and state medians at $31,956, then nearly double their earnings by year four to $60,969—substantially outpacing typical growth in this field. While the four-year figure places graduates ahead of most NY competitors except Fordham and Hamilton, that slow start matters when you're carrying $20,000 in debt.

The real question is whether that dramatic earnings trajectory is sustainable or an artifact of the small sample size (under 30 graduates tracked). Among NY programs, this ranks at the 40th percentile—essentially middle-of-the-pack despite Vassar's highly selective admissions (18% acceptance rate, 1513 SAT). You'd expect stronger placement from a school of this caliber, particularly given that nearby Fordham graduates start earning $46,653 right out of the gate.

The manageable debt load (0.63 debt-to-earnings ratio) provides some cushion during those lean first years. For families paying full freight at a school like Vassar, though, the investment calculation becomes trickier when graduates initially earn below the national median for this major. If your child has clearer career goals in international affairs—NGO work, think tanks, federal service—this path could make sense. But if they're still exploring, consider that the early earnings gap might reflect graduates taking unpaid internships or low-paying entry positions to build credentials, a luxury not every family can afford.