International Business at Johnson & Wales University-Providence

Johnson & Wales University's International Business program sits near the bottom nationally—17th percentile—for graduate earnings, with first-year salaries of $40,077 falling nearly $10,000 short of the typical International Business graduate nationwide. Within Rhode Island's limited market of five programs, it ranks middle of the pack (40th percentile), but that still means students here earn about $25,000 less out of the gate than peers at Bryant University just 15 minutes north.

The debt picture isn't excessive at $26,732, and the 67% debt-to-earnings ratio suggests graduates can reasonably manage their loans. The 25% earnings growth to nearly $50,000 by year four shows some career momentum. However, even with that growth, graduates barely reach what the typical International Business major earns in their first year nationally. For a program designed to launch students into global commerce, these outcomes suggest limited access to the higher-paying corporate positions that typically reward this degree.

The critical caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so these figures may not reflect the full picture. But given Johnson & Wales's open-admission profile and the program's consistent underperformance against state and national benchmarks, parents should question whether the ROI justifies the investment. If international business is the goal, Bryant's proven track record of placing graduates into $65,000+ positions makes a compelling case for the extra application effort.