International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at College of Our Lady of the Elms

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable programs nationally, this International Business degree shows estimated first-year earnings of $49,890 against $25,000 in debt—a manageable 0.50 ratio that keeps monthly loan payments under 10% of gross income. The challenge? Massachusetts employers typically pay International Business graduates significantly more. The state median for this field sits at $67,794, nearly $18,000 above what peer programs nationally produce, while schools like Northeastern and Massachusetts Maritime report outcomes well above $54,000. Being in a high-wage state creates both opportunity and risk: graduates who stay local may underperform the regional market.

With 42% of students receiving Pell grants, many families here are counting on this degree to deliver mobility. The estimated debt load is slightly above the national median for this credential ($23,472), which means Elms students aren't getting a discount despite attending a less selective school. The national earnings figure suggests stability rather than upside—solid enough to service the debt, but unlikely to match what Massachusetts's stronger business programs deliver.

The verdict: This works as an affordable business degree if your student plans to compete nationally rather than exclusively in Massachusetts's higher-paying market. Just understand that the figures are estimates drawn from similar programs, not tracked outcomes from Elms itself, so you're making this decision with less certainty than you'd have with a program that reports actual graduate data.

Where College of Our Lady of the Elms Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (18 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
College of Our Lady of the ElmsChicopee	$42,061	$49,890*	—	$25,000*	—
Northeastern UniversityBoston	$63,141	$80,848*	$91,133	$25,729*	0.32
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay	$10,816	$54,741*	$69,477	$25,000*	0.46
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 College of Our Lady of the Elms, approximately 42% 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 national median of 103 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.