International Business at Excelsior University

Online-focused Excelsior serves a different population than traditional NY business schools, which makes the estimated $48,600 first-year earnings for this International Business degree difficult to interpret. While peer programs across New York cluster around this same figure, the graduates at schools with reported data—from Fordham's $65,000 down to Berkeley College's $37,000—suggest outcomes depend heavily on each institution's network and student circumstances. With 25% of Excelsior students receiving Pell grants, many are likely working adults balancing education with existing careers, which may already influence their earning trajectories.

The estimated $25,000 debt load sits just above both state and national medians, creating a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.51 that looks manageable on paper. For students completing this degree entirely online while maintaining employment, the real value equation centers less on post-graduation salary jumps and more on career mobility within their current organizations. If your child is already working and needs the credential for advancement, this could work. If they're a traditional student expecting the program to launch them into international business roles competing with graduates from Fordham or Baruch, the lack of campus recruiting infrastructure and peer program data suggest caution. The degree's portability matters most if it opens specific doors in their existing career path.