Love this - @SJ2727
UNM has IR through poli sci, an International Studies major and the International Studies Institute for enrichment opportunities. It likely makes much more sense than Michigan as an out of state flagship, as an example, because it will be under $40k and they’ll get in.
WVU likely isn’t what you seek but it will be in the mid 30s with assured merit. If you are interested in the Peace Corps, they have a prep program to assist.
To your point, whether or not they would attend, it would be an option. Other WUE schools and UC and CSU schools would be fine places to study. And other out of state schools might work.
Lots of LACs will work but you’ll need to run the net price calculators if $40k is a hard budget. You need to know up front if that includes travel costs.
Hartwick College is an LAC under $40k full price and has a January term with abroad trips. They have an IR minor that you could pair with Poli Sci or Global Studies.
Cornell College in Iowa, where you take one class at a time, will give you your price before you apply. Whitman in Washington will limit tuition to 10% of your parents income, so that might come in under $40k deiendent upon what they make.
In some ways, it’s a great time to be a buyer of a four year education. But you have to shop smartly. But there are definitely admissible and more importantly affordable schools out there for you.
And then you can take a few flyers too, if you want, and hope they get to $40k of the NPC doesn’t show it.
Hope that helps.