International Relations and National Security Studies at Westminster College

Drawing on what similar International Relations programs in Pennsylvania report, Westminster's graduates appear to earn around $49,000 in their first year—substantially higher than the $37,000 national median for this major. With estimated debt near $20,000, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41 suggests manageable repayment, assuming those state-level patterns hold here.

The challenge is understanding where Westminster sits within Pennsylvania's wide range. The state's top programs—Bucknell at $77,000, Penn at $66,000—command premium outcomes, likely reflecting both institutional prestige and robust alumni networks in government and policy circles. Westminster's more modest profile (86% admission rate, quarter of students on Pell grants) suggests it may not deliver those elite-level connections, even if the state median provides a reasonable baseline.

For parents considering this $80,000+ investment, the question is whether Westminster's specific program can match those peer outcomes. International Relations careers often hinge on internships, DC connections, and graduate school pathways—factors that vary dramatically by institution. The debt level appears reasonable if earnings materialize as estimated, but you'd want concrete evidence of where recent graduates actually land before banking on state-wide medians to predict your child's trajectory.