International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Augustana College

Median Earnings (1yr)

$37,350

5th percentile

25th percentile in Illinois

Median Debt

$25,500

9% above national median

Analysis

At $37,350 in first-year earnings, Augustana's International Business program lags significantly behind both state and national benchmarks. The median Illinois graduate in this field earns $52,424—that's $15,000 more annually than Augustana grads. Even more concerning, this program ranks in just the 5th percentile nationally, meaning 95% of comparable programs deliver better earnings outcomes. Nearby alternatives like Illinois State and Bradley both produce graduates earning over $52,000, suggesting this isn't simply a regional wage issue.

The $25,500 debt load is slightly above the state median and creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.68. While not catastrophic, this means graduates start with debt equivalent to 68% of their first year's salary—a meaningful burden when those earnings are already so far below market rate. The small sample size (under 30 graduates) means these numbers could shift with more data, but they're still red flags worth taking seriously.

For parents considering this program, the math is challenging. Unless your child has compelling reasons to attend Augustana specifically, state universities like Illinois State offer substantially better career outcomes at comparable or lower cost. If Augustana is the choice for other reasons, having frank conversations about debt minimization and career planning becomes essential to offset the earnings gap.

Where Augustana College Stands

Earnings vs. debt across all international business bachelors's programs nationally

Earnings Distribution

How Augustana College graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
Augustana CollegeRock Island	$49,834	$37,350	—	$25,500	0.68
Loyola University ChicagoChicago	$51,716	$55,496	—	$25,000	0.45
Illinois State UniversityNormal	$16,021	$52,491	$60,942	$19,059	0.36
Bradley UniversityPeoria	$39,680	$52,357	—	—	—
National Median	—	$49,890	—	$23,472	0.47

Career Paths

Occupations commonly associated with international business graduates

Chief Executives

Determine and formulate policies and provide overall direction of companies or private and public sector organizations within guidelines set up by a board of directors or similar governing body. Plan, direct, or coordinate operational activities at the highest level of management with the help of subordinate executives and staff managers.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Chief Sustainability Officers

Communicate and coordinate with management, shareholders, customers, and employees to address sustainability issues. Enact or oversee a corporate sustainability strategy.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

General and Operations Managers

Plan, direct, or coordinate the operations of public or private sector organizations, overseeing multiple departments or locations. Duties and responsibilities include formulating policies, managing daily operations, and planning the use of materials and human resources, but are too diverse and general in nature to be classified in any one functional area of management or administration, such as personnel, purchasing, or administrative services. Usually manage through subordinate supervisors. Excludes First-Line Supervisors.

$105,350/yrJobs growth:Bachelor's degree

Business Teachers, Postsecondary

Teach courses in business administration and management, such as accounting, finance, human resources, labor and industrial relations, marketing, and operations research. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

$83,980/yrJobs growth:

Business Operations Specialists, All Other

All business operations specialists not listed separately.

Business Continuity Planners

Develop, maintain, or implement business continuity and disaster recovery strategies and solutions, including risk assessments, business impact analyses, strategy selection, and documentation of business continuity and disaster recovery procedures. Plan, conduct, and debrief regular mock-disaster exercises to test the adequacy of existing plans and strategies, updating procedures and plans regularly. Act as a coordinator for continuity efforts after a disruption event.

Sustainability Specialists

Address organizational sustainability issues, such as waste stream management, green building practices, and green procurement plans.

Online Merchants

Conduct retail activities of businesses operating exclusively online. May perform duties such as preparing business strategies, buying merchandise, managing inventory, implementing marketing activities, fulfilling and shipping online orders, and balancing financial records.

Security Management Specialists

Conduct security assessments for organizations, and design security systems and processes. May specialize in areas such as physical security or the safety of employees and facilities.

About This Data

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (October 2025 release)

Population: Graduates who received federal financial aid (Title IV grants or loans). At Augustana College, approximately 22% of students receive Pell grants. Students who did not receive federal aid are not included in these figures.

Earnings: Median earnings from IRS W-2 data for graduates who are employed and not enrolled in further education, measured 1 year after completion. Earnings are pre-tax and include wages, salaries, and self-employment income.

Debt: Median cumulative federal loan debt at graduation. Does not include private loans or Parent PLUS loans borrowed on behalf of students.

Sample Size: Based on 19 graduates with reported earnings and 20 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.