Program Analysis
Starting salaries of $29,132/yr fall 16% below the $34,873 national median for International/Global Studies. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.
With a 16.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.
The 4% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some International/Global Studies career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.
At $14,510 in median debt against $29,132 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.
A #48 ranking among 81 International/Global Studies programs places University of Wyoming in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.
A 41% earnings increase from $29,132 to $41,127 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.