International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Houston Christian University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$41,911

Est. from TX median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable programs across Texas, this International Business degree starts graduates around $42,000—well below the $50,000 national median and trailing schools like Saint Edward's and UT Arlington by $10,000 or more. The estimated $25,000 in debt seems manageable at first glance with a 0.60 ratio, but that calculation masks a concerning reality: peer programs in Texas typically saddle students with just $18,000 in debt while producing similar or better earnings outcomes.

The gap matters because Houston Christian serves a predominantly middle-income student body (54% receive Pell grants), and that extra $7,000 in estimated borrowing compounds over time. When similar programs produce the same earnings with less debt—or substantially higher earnings with comparable debt—families should ask hard questions about why this particular combination exists. The university's 85% acceptance rate and below-average SAT scores suggest it may not be providing the competitive edge needed to justify the premium.

For anxious parents, the takeaway is blunt: this program appears positioned at the bottom of the Texas market for International Business degrees. Before committing, request actual placement data from Houston Christian and compare job outcomes directly against UT Dallas or Houston-Downtown, which serve similar student populations but show stronger estimated returns.

Where Houston Christian University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (30 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Houston Christian UniversityHouston	$38,100	$41,911*	—	$25,000*	—
Saint Edward's UniversityAustin	$51,384	$51,843*	$62,711	$24,218*	0.47
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington	$11,728	$48,625*	$54,622	$17,999*	0.37
Texas A&M University-San AntonioSan Antonio	$9,548	$46,714*	—	—*	—
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson	$14,564	$44,228*	$80,589	$17,734*	0.40
University of Houston-DowntownHouston	$7,708	$41,911*	$50,379	$13,978*	0.33
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 Houston Christian University, approximately 54% 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 9 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.