International Business: degree ROI, salary & best colleges
International Business graduates earn a median $73,201 four years after finishing — $24,841/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. At a typical $16,902/yr net price ($67,608 over four years), that pays back in about 2.7 years. Federal data pools 404 bachelor's programs graduating roughly 5,567 students a year. (Scorecard field-of-study, 2026 · our math.)
International Business ranks #62 of 202 bachelor's fields by earnings — pays more than 70% of majors.
| # | College | State | Grad earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgetown University | DC | $159,452 |
| 2 | Northeastern University | MA | $125,162 |
| 3 | University of Georgia | GA | $109,345 |
| 4 | University of Minnesota-Twin Cities | MN | $108,566 |
| 5 | University of South Carolina-Columbia | SC | $107,205 |
| 6 | University of Wisconsin-Madison | WI | $106,783 |
| 7 | Fordham University | NY | $106,665 |
| 8 | Villanova University | PA | $103,700 |
| 9 | Marquette University | WI | $102,306 |
| 10 | Fairfield University | CT | $101,411 |
| 11 | Pepperdine University | CA | $100,595 |
| 12 | Howard University | DC | $100,344 |
College Scorecard field-of-study (2026), program-level median earnings for this CIP · our ranking.
How we compute this. Earnings are the national median for graduates of this field measured 1 and 4 years after completion (Scorecard field-of-study, bachelor's). Premium = 4-year earnings − the $48,360 high-school baseline. Payback = a representative 4-year net cost (median college net price × 4) ÷ premium. Field medians blend every school — a specific program can pay far more or less. Full method on the methodology page; the field ranking is on ROI by major.
How fast does International Business pay grow after graduation?
From $45,094 one year out to $73,201 four years out — a $28,107 climb, or 62% over three years. Both are federal medians of the same graduating cohorts, so the gap reflects real wage progression rather than a change in who is measured.
How many students graduate in International Business each year?
About 5,567 bachelor's graduates a year across 404 programs in the federal file. Cohort size matters when reading the median: a field this size averages across a wide range of employers, regions and job titles.