2026 ROI Award Winner
Median Earnings (1yr)
$81,800
95th percentile
60th percentile in District of Columbia
Median Debt
$14,447
38% below national median

Analysis

Georgetown's International Business program launches graduates into strong early earnings at $81,800—outperforming the national median by 64% and ranking in the 95th percentile nationally. That's impressive, though it's worth noting that among DC's handful of international business programs, Georgetown sits near the middle of the pack (60th percentile), with George Washington's graduates earning comparable salaries. The elite admission standards and relatively low Pell enrollment suggest this is a highly selective program with built-in networking advantages.

The financial picture is exceptionally clean: graduates carry just $14,447 in debt, roughly half the national median and well below what students at other DC programs typically borrow. That creates a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.18—meaning graduates earn back their entire debt load in barely two months. Earnings growth to $101,821 by year four demonstrates the degree's staying power in the job market.

For families who can afford Georgetown's tuition or secure sufficient aid, this represents a low-risk investment with strong returns. The combination of minimal debt and above-average starting salaries means graduates have financial flexibility immediately after graduation. While the moderate sample size suggests some year-to-year variability in outcomes, the overall pattern is clear: this program delivers solid earnings with manageable debt, even if it doesn't dramatically outperform other DC options.

Where Georgetown University Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How Georgetown University graduates compare to all programs nationally

Earnings Over Time

How earnings evolve from 1 year to 4 years after graduation

School1 Year4 YearsGrowth
Georgetown University$81,800$101,821+24%
George Washington University$70,856$101,930+44%
University of Wisconsin-Madison$66,591$94,010+41%
University of Delaware$57,941$92,663+60%
Northeastern University$80,848$91,133+13%

Compare to Similar Programs in District of Columbia

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in District of Columbia (7 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)Earnings (4yr)Median DebtDebt/Earnings
Georgetown UniversityWashington$65,081$81,800$101,821$14,4470.18
George Washington UniversityWashington$64,990$70,856$101,930$23,2500.33
Howard UniversityWashington$33,344$61,040$24,0000.39
National Median$49,890$23,4720.47

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 Georgetown University, approximately 10% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 41 graduates with reported earnings and 36 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.