International/Globalization Studies: is this bachelor's degree worth it?
National picture across 90 reporting college programs.
MODELED SCENARIO · Negative payoff
−$149,268 over 10 years
National scenario across reporting bachelor's degree programs, using median year-4 earnings, their institutions’ average net prices and a typical 4-year duration.
At these assumptions, the estimated earnings premium does not recover the modeled economic investment within ten years.
22.9 yrsModeled economic break-even
−56%Modeled 10-year ROI
$56,538Observed earnings · year 4
Observed national outcomes
$56,538Median reported earnings · year 4
$58,167Average reported earnings · year 5
$21,966Median federal debt
38thYear-4 earnings percentile at this credential
90Reporting programs
87With year-4 earnings
The same field can produce a different equation.
Keep the federal field fixed and compare observed outcomes at every reportable credential level. These are separate graduate cohorts—not a promise that more schooling causes the difference.
OPEN PROFILE
Undergraduate Certificate or Diploma
- Year-4 earnings
- $71,419
- Federal debt
- $19,957
- Reporting programs
- 1
Bachelor's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $56,538
- Federal debt
- $21,966
- Reporting programs
- 90
Master's Degree
- Year-4 earnings
- $79,245
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 12
Graduate/Professional Certificate
- Year-4 earnings
- $95,322
- Federal debt
- Not available
- Reporting programs
- 1
Where the middle half of programs lands
Year‑4 earnings differ by college. This band shows the 25th percentile, national median and 75th percentile among reporting programs.
Median
25th percentile$49,637National median$56,53875th percentile$65,703
87 programs report year‑4 earnings.See the spread, not just the national number.
1Boston College$91,8742American Public University System$86,5993University of California, Los Angeles$82,5014University of California, San Diego$81,1745University of Virginia-Main Campus$76,0446North Carolina State University at Raleigh$73,3627University of Michigan-Ann Arbor$72,5458Drexel University$72,3759Kenyon College$72,30510College of the Holy Cross$71,280Observed year-4 earnings · top displayed records are not a universal ranking
Related occupations
Official CIP–SOC links add career context without claiming that every graduate enters the same job.
Political ScientistsSOC 19-3094 · 1 crosswalk linksSocial Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary, All OtherSOC 25-1069 · 1 crosswalk links
Same degree, different outcomes
Compare reported outcomes using the same federal field and credential. ROI uses each institution’s average net price as a scenario—not an individual aid offer.
| # | College | Location | Earnings, year 4 | Federal debt | 10-year ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston CollegeBachelor's Degree | Chestnut Hill, MA | $91,874 | $19,000 | +35% | Positive payoff |
| 2 | American Public University SystemBachelor's Degree | Charles Town, WV | $86,599 | $13,125 | +90% | Positive payoff |
| 3 | University of California, Los AngelesBachelor's Degree | Los Angeles, CA | $82,501 | $12,000 | +63% | Positive payoff |
| 4 | University of California, San DiegoBachelor's Degree | La Jolla, CA | $81,174 | $16,500 | +57% | Positive payoff |
| 5 | University of Virginia-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Charlottesville, VA | $76,044 | $19,500 | +17% | Positive payoff |
| 6 | North Carolina State University at RaleighBachelor's Degree | Raleigh, NC | $73,362 | $22,500 | +14% | Positive payoff |
| 7 | University of Michigan-Ann ArborBachelor's Degree | Ann Arbor, MI | $72,545 | $15,053 | +18% | Positive payoff |
| 8 | Drexel UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $72,375 | $29,046 | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 9 | Kenyon CollegeBachelor's Degree | Gambier, OH | $72,305 | Not available | -18% | Negative payoff |
| 10 | College of the Holy CrossBachelor's Degree | Worcester, MA | $71,280 | $23,000 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 11 | The University of the SouthBachelor's Degree | Sewanee, TN | $70,907 | $19,500 | -11% | Negative payoff |
| 12 | University of Central FloridaBachelor's Degree | Orlando, FL | $69,568 | $20,142 | +11% | Positive payoff |
| 13 | University of Oklahoma-Norman CampusBachelor's Degree | Norman, OK | $68,378 | $21,681 | -3% | Negative payoff |
| 14 | University of DaytonBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $68,196 | $24,199 | -22% | Negative payoff |
| 15 | University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignBachelor's Degree | Champaign, IL | $67,396 | $21,628 | -6% | Negative payoff |
| 16 | Providence CollegeBachelor's Degree | Providence, RI | $67,281 | $27,000 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 17 | The University of Texas at AustinBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $67,079 | $18,535 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 18 | Ohio State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Columbus, OH | $66,995 | $20,075 | -12% | Negative payoff |
| 19 | University of California, BerkeleyBachelor's Degree | Berkeley, CA | $66,522 | $15,636 | -8% | Negative payoff |
| 20 | Washington University in St LouisBachelor's Degree | St. Louis, MO | $66,498 | $20,250 | -20% | Negative payoff |
| 21 | Brandeis UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | $66,366 | $25,694 | -34% | Negative payoff |
| 22 | University of California, Santa BarbaraBachelor's Degree | Santa Barbara, CA | $66,127 | $14,792 | -14% | Negative payoff |
| 23 | University of UtahBachelor's Degree | Salt Lake City, UT | $65,703 | $25,611 | -15% | Negative payoff |
| 24 | St Lawrence UniversityBachelor's Degree | Canton, NY | $65,419 | $27,000 | -31% | Negative payoff |
| 25 | Michigan State UniversityBachelor's Degree | East Lansing, MI | $64,372 | $27,000 | -25% | Negative payoff |
| 26 | University at AlbanyBachelor's Degree | Albany, NY | $63,881 | $26,875 | -24% | Negative payoff |
| 27 | Texas A&M University-College StationBachelor's Degree | College Station, TX | $63,504 | $18,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 28 | University of Wisconsin-MadisonBachelor's Degree | Madison, WI | $63,452 | $20,469 | -26% | Negative payoff |
| 29 | Pepperdine UniversityBachelor's Degree | Malibu, CA | $62,495 | $26,000 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 30 | California State University, Monterey BayBachelor's Degree | Seaside, CA | $61,480 | $14,093 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 31 | University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical CampusBachelor's Degree | Denver, CO | $61,344 | $24,618 | -28% | Negative payoff |
| 32 | Texas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | San Marcos, TX | $60,976 | $24,313 | -35% | Negative payoff |
| 33 | College of CharlestonBachelor's Degree | Charleston, SC | $60,468 | $17,750 | -40% | Negative payoff |
| 34 | Arizona State University Campus ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Tempe, AZ | $59,806 | $21,966 | -38% | Negative payoff |
| 35 | Arizona State University Digital ImmersionBachelor's Degree | Scottsdale, AZ | $59,806 | $21,966 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | Not available |
| 36 | University of Colorado BoulderBachelor's Degree | Boulder, CO | $59,796 | $17,600 | -47% | Negative payoff |
| 37 | Centre CollegeBachelor's Degree | Danville, KY | $59,531 | $27,000 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 38 | University of FloridaBachelor's Degree | Gainesville, FL | $59,432 | $12,000 | -30% | Negative payoff |
| 39 | Hofstra UniversityBachelor's Degree | Hempstead, NY | $59,322 | $25,750 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 40 | University of California, RiversideBachelor's Degree | Riverside, CA | $57,959 | $20,500 | -45% | Negative payoff |
| 41 | University of California, IrvineBachelor's Degree | Irvine, CA | $57,116 | $15,250 | -49% | Negative payoff |
| 42 | Wright State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Dayton, OH | $56,668 | $32,500 | -52% | Negative payoff |
| 43 | Seattle UniversityBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $56,590 | $20,500 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 44 | Spelman CollegeBachelor's Degree | Atlanta, GA | $56,538 | $27,000 | -66% | Negative payoff |
| 45 | Texas Tech UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lubbock, TX | $56,496 | $21,500 | -55% | Negative payoff |
| 46 | Macalester CollegeBachelor's Degree | Saint Paul, MN | $56,091 | $23,324 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 47 | University of Northern ColoradoBachelor's Degree | Greeley, CO | $55,967 | Not available | -56% | Negative payoff |
| 48 | The University of Texas at ArlingtonBachelor's Degree | Arlington, TX | $55,933 | $25,028 | -54% | Negative payoff |
| 49 | University of North Carolina WilmingtonBachelor's Degree | Wilmington, NC | $54,707 | $18,750 | -63% | Negative payoff |
| 50 | University of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeBachelor's Degree | Milwaukee, WI | $54,462 | $26,738 | -61% | Negative payoff |
| 51 | University of North FloridaBachelor's Degree | Jacksonville, FL | $54,321 | $18,625 | -58% | Negative payoff |
| 52 | University of Nebraska-LincolnBachelor's Degree | Lincoln, NE | $54,106 | $20,500 | -64% | Negative payoff |
| 53 | California State University, Long BeachBachelor's Degree | Long Beach, CA | $53,918 | $15,454 | -60% | Negative payoff |
| 54 | The New SchoolBachelor's Degree | New York, NY | $53,917 | $22,792 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 55 | Kansas State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Manhattan, KS | $53,389 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 56 | Arcadia UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glenside, PA | $53,307 | $27,000 | -72% | Negative payoff |
| 57 | University of Wisconsin-WhitewaterBachelor's Degree | Whitewater, WI | $52,885 | Not available | -67% | Negative payoff |
| 58 | University of OregonBachelor's Degree | Eugene, OR | $52,842 | $19,500 | -71% | Negative payoff |
| 59 | Temple UniversityBachelor's Degree | Philadelphia, PA | $51,931 | $25,125 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 60 | Emmanuel CollegeBachelor's Degree | Boston, MA | $51,255 | $27,000 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 61 | University of VermontBachelor's Degree | Burlington, VT | $51,219 | $20,500 | -76% | Negative payoff |
| 62 | University of North Carolina at CharlotteBachelor's Degree | Charlotte, NC | $51,082 | $24,250 | -75% | Negative payoff |
| 63 | University of Maryland-Baltimore CountyBachelor's Degree | Baltimore, MD | $50,400 | $20,258 | -78% | Negative payoff |
| 64 | University of North TexasBachelor's Degree | Denton, TX | $50,139 | $21,033 | -79% | Negative payoff |
| 65 | Bowling Green State University-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Bowling Green, OH | $49,925 | $26,000 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 66 | Middle Tennessee State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Murfreesboro, TN | $49,637 | $23,850 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 67 | Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical CollegeBachelor's Degree | Baton Rouge, LA | $49,540 | $21,500 | -82% | Negative payoff |
| 68 | University of Washington-Seattle CampusBachelor's Degree | Seattle, WA | $49,475 | $16,834 | -81% | Negative payoff |
| 69 | University of Washington-Bothell CampusBachelor's Degree | Bothell, WA | $49,475 | $16,834 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 70 | University of Washington-Tacoma CampusBachelor's Degree | Tacoma, WA | $49,475 | $16,834 | -80% | Negative payoff |
| 71 | Colorado State University-Fort CollinsBachelor's Degree | Fort Collins, CO | $48,973 | $19,763 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 72 | University of ArizonaBachelor's Degree | Tucson, AZ | $48,645 | $25,000 | -85% | Negative payoff |
| 73 | Saint Edward's UniversityBachelor's Degree | Austin, TX | $48,050 | $23,625 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 74 | University of KentuckyBachelor's Degree | Lexington, KY | $47,698 | $25,368 | -89% | Negative payoff |
| 75 | University of IowaBachelor's Degree | Iowa City, IA | $47,421 | $25,242 | -91% | Negative payoff |
| 76 | Rowan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Glassboro, NJ | $46,165 | Not available | -96% | Negative payoff |
| 77 | Concordia College at MoorheadBachelor's Degree | Moorhead, MN | $45,904 | $27,000 | -97% | Negative payoff |
| 78 | John Brown UniversityBachelor's Degree | Siloam Springs, AR | $45,322 | $24,125 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 79 | Brigham Young University-IdahoBachelor's Degree | Rexburg, ID | $45,156 | $10,000 | -99% | Negative payoff |
| 80 | University of Nebraska at OmahaBachelor's Degree | Omaha, NE | $44,945 | $20,527 | -100% | Negative payoff |
| 81 | University of Wisconsin-Stevens PointBachelor's Degree | Stevens Point, WI | $42,984 | $25,372 | -108% | Negative payoff |
| 82 | Southeast Missouri State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Cape Girardeau, MO | $41,481 | $25,000 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 83 | Liberty UniversityBachelor's Degree | Lynchburg, VA | $40,897 | $22,914 | -114% | Negative payoff |
| 84 | Western Michigan UniversityBachelor's Degree | Kalamazoo, MI | $40,663 | $27,000 | -118% | Negative payoff |
| 85 | University of WyomingBachelor's Degree | Laramie, WY | $39,168 | $17,375 | -125% | Negative payoff |
| 86 | Missouri State University-SpringfieldBachelor's Degree | Springfield, MO | $37,180 | $24,750 | -131% | Negative payoff |
| 87 | University of New Mexico-Main CampusBachelor's Degree | Albuquerque, NM | $33,116 | $18,500 | -149% | Negative payoff |
| 88 | Bentley UniversityBachelor's Degree | Waltham, MA | Not available | $23,625 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $37,930 |
| 89 | Appalachian State UniversityBachelor's Degree | Boone, NC | Not available | $22,991 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $16,836 |
| 90 | Shippensburg University of PennsylvaniaBachelor's Degree | Shippensburg, PA | Not available | $27,000 | WithheldPrice-proxy sensitive | $23,726 |
This page keeps the field and credential level fixed. Federal categories can still combine multiple catalog programs or concentrations. Automated ROI is limited to associate and bachelor’s degrees because institution-wide annual net price is not a reliable proxy for short certificate prices. ROI is an illustrative scenario, not a federal determination.