International Business at Alverno College

Borrowing $25,000 for a degree that leads to mid-$50,000 starting salaries creates a manageable debt burden, with estimated payments around $280 monthly representing roughly 6% of gross income. What makes this harder to evaluate is that Alverno's actual outcomes are unknown—the four comparable Wisconsin programs show a wide spread from $47,000 to $66,000, meaning your child's experience could land anywhere in that range depending on how well Alverno's curriculum and career services stack up against competitors like UW-Madison or Marquette.

The estimated $54,000 figure sits comfortably above the national median for international business programs, and the projected debt load is slightly higher than the Wisconsin median of $20,475 but still reasonable. Given Alverno's 93% admission rate and high Pell Grant enrollment, this suggests the college prioritizes access—a strength if your child needs a supportive environment, though selective employers often favor graduates from higher-ranked programs with more competitive admissions.

The practical challenge: you're making a significant financial commitment without knowing whether Alverno's specific program delivers closer to the $47,000 bottom or the $66,000 top of the state range. Before enrolling, ask the admissions office directly about employment outcomes for recent graduates and whether they can connect you with alumni working in international business roles.