International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Ave Maria University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$46,354

Est. from FL median (6 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from FL median (3 programs)

Analysis

A $25,000 debt load stands well above what most Florida international business programs report—the state median is $17,500. While the estimated first-year earnings of $46,354 align with Florida's typical outcomes for this field, the higher debt burden means graduates would be directing more of their early paychecks toward loan payments than peers at competing programs. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54 isn't alarming on its face, but it's less favorable when you consider that similar programs across Florida are producing comparable earnings with significantly less borrowed money.

The earnings estimate itself, derived from six Florida programs in this field, suggests Ave Maria graduates would likely start near the middle of the pack—behind University of North Florida's $49,379 but roughly on par with FIU and USF. That's not concerning for a selective liberal arts institution. The real question is whether Ave Maria's distinctive Catholic business education justifies the additional $7,500 in estimated debt compared to the state norm.

For families focused purely on financial return, the debt premium here matters. Your child could potentially secure similar international business earnings elsewhere in Florida while borrowing thousands less. That said, if Ave Maria's faith-integrated curriculum and tight-knit community align with your family's values, the estimated financial picture isn't prohibitive—just less efficient than alternatives.

Where Ave Maria University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Florida

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Florida (28 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Ave Maria UniversityAve Maria	$28,222	$46,354*	—	$25,000*	—
University of North FloridaJacksonville	$6,389	$49,379*	$56,391	$15,500*	0.31
The University of TampaTampa	$33,424	$48,149*	$74,400	$25,250*	0.52
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton	$4,879	$47,047*	$60,027	$17,500*	0.37
Florida International UniversityMiami	$6,565	$45,661*	$56,343	$17,750*	0.39
University of South FloridaTampa	$6,410	$44,096*	$53,207	$16,936*	0.38
National Median	—	$49,890*	—	$23,472*	0.47

* Estimated from similar programs

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 Ave Maria University, approximately 23% 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.

Estimated Earnings: Actual earnings data is not available for this program (typically due to privacy thresholds when fewer than 30 graduates reported earnings). The estimate shown is based on the median of 6 similar programs in FL. Actual outcomes may vary.