International Business at Austin College

Based on comparable international business programs in Texas, first-year earnings around $42,000 fall right at the state median but roughly $8,000 below the national benchmark of $50,000. This gap matters when you're carrying what peers at similar private institutions typically graduate with—about $25,000 in debt. While that debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60 isn't alarming, it means loan payments will take a meaningful bite out of early-career paychecks that are already trailing stronger programs at UT Dallas, UT Arlington, and Saint Edward's, all of which report actual outcomes in the mid-to-upper $40,000s or higher.

The challenge here is that Austin College charges private school tuition but the estimated outcomes suggest returns more typical of mid-tier public programs. International business programs vary widely in quality and employer connections, and without actual graduate data for this specific program, you're making a significant financial bet on outcomes that comparable Texas programs are delivering. The $8,000 national earnings gap is particularly concerning for a field where career advancement often depends on initial placement with globally-oriented employers.

Before committing, find out where recent Austin College international business graduates actually landed jobs and what they're earning. If the school can't provide concrete placement data, that silence tells you something important about whether this program justifies private college pricing.