International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Illinois Wesleyan University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$52,424

Est. from IL median (4 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

Similar International Business programs in Illinois typically produce first-year earnings around $52,400, which would put Illinois Wesleyan's graduates roughly in the middle of the state pack—above Augustana's $37,000 but below Loyola's $55,500. At an estimated debt load of $25,000, the financial equation looks manageable, with debt representing less than half of first-year earnings. That's a reasonable starting point for a bachelor's degree, though not exceptional.

The challenge here is uncertainty. These figures come from peer programs rather than Illinois Wesleyan's actual graduates in this major, so we don't know if this school delivers results closer to Loyola's stronger outcomes or Augustana's weaker ones. The 45% admission rate and solid SAT scores suggest a respectable institution, but without direct graduate data, you're essentially betting on the program performing like the Illinois average. For comparison, the national median for International Business sits at $49,890, so the Illinois figures do suggest a slight premium for studying in this state.

If your child is committed to international business specifically and Illinois Wesleyan offers unique opportunities—study abroad partnerships, language immersion, or corporate connections—the estimated debt burden won't be crushing. But if they're still exploring business concentrations, programs with reported data would give you more confidence in what you're paying for.

Where Illinois Wesleyan University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Illinois

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Illinois (16 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Illinois Wesleyan UniversityBloomington	$55,704	$52,424*	—	$25,000*	—
Loyola University ChicagoChicago	$51,716	$55,496*	—	$25,000*	0.45
Illinois State UniversityNormal	$16,021	$52,491*	$60,942	$19,059*	0.36
Bradley UniversityPeoria	$39,680	$52,357*	—	—*	—
Augustana CollegeRock Island	$49,834	$37,350*	—	$25,500*	0.68
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 Illinois Wesleyan University, approximately 23% 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 4 similar programs in IL. Actual outcomes may vary.