International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Columbia College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

Peer programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $49,890 for international business bachelor's graduates, which trails what South Carolina's flagship produces—University of South Carolina-Columbia reports over $70,000—but exceeds some in-state alternatives. With an estimated $25,000 in debt, the financial picture looks manageable on paper: that half-year debt-to-earnings ratio sits comfortably below concerning thresholds. The challenge is that these estimates come from similar programs nationally, not Columbia College's actual outcomes, so they reflect what's typical rather than what this school specifically delivers.

That uncertainty matters when you're considering a 96% admission rate institution where 53% of students need Pell grants. Schools serving more economically vulnerable populations sometimes struggle to match the career services and employer networks that drive higher earnings. The $20,000+ gap between estimated earnings here and USC-Columbia's reported outcomes suggests institutional differences significantly shape post-graduation results in this field.

Your decision hinges on affordability and what Columbia College offers beyond the classroom. If the school keeps actual debt near that $25,000 estimate and provides strong internship connections in South Carolina's logistics and manufacturing sectors, the numbers could work. But without verified outcomes data, you're accepting more uncertainty than at programs with transparent results—particularly when the state's top international business programs show such wide earning variations.

Where Columbia College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in South Carolina

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in South Carolina (7 total in state)

Scroll to see more →

School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Columbia CollegeColumbia	$21,450	$49,890*	—	$25,000*	—
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia	$12,688	$70,992*	$89,299	$25,174*	0.35
College of CharlestonCharleston	$12,978	$37,624*	$67,678	$22,500*	0.60
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 Columbia College, approximately 53% 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.