International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at La Sierra University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$48,463

Est. from CA median (9 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

Drawing on outcomes from comparable programs across California, an International Business bachelor's at La Sierra appears to track near the state median of roughly $48,000 in first-year earnings—though it's worth noting this reflects broader patterns rather than La Sierra's specific track record. The estimated $25,000 debt load, while slightly above the state median of $20,400 for this major, yields a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, meaning graduates would owe about half their first-year income.

The challenge is competitive positioning. Top California programs in this field—San Francisco State, University of San Diego, and others—report actual outcomes ranging from $48,000 to over $70,000 for first-year graduates. Without published data specific to La Sierra's program, you're betting on whether their business connections and career support can match these more established competitors. The school's 47% Pell Grant population suggests strong access, but that doesn't necessarily translate to alumni network strength or employer relationships in the competitive Southern California market.

If your child is drawn to La Sierra's environment and the estimated debt stays near $25,000, the numbers suggest a workable financial foundation—not a windfall, but not a trap. Press the school directly on career placement specifics: where do their international business graduates actually land, and what companies recruit on campus? Those answers matter more than state averages when you're investing in this particular program.

Where La Sierra University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in California

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in California (21 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
La Sierra UniversityRiverside	$35,910	$48,463*	—	$25,000*	—
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$71,369*	$61,843	$27,195*	0.38
San Francisco State UniversitySan Francisco	$7,424	$58,560*	$58,508	$22,374*	0.38
University of San FranciscoSan Francisco	$58,222	$57,780*	$69,821	$25,000*	0.43
California State University-San MarcosSan Marcos	$7,739	$55,455*	—	$15,965*	0.29
University of San DiegoSan Diego	$56,444	$48,463*	$76,666	$19,197*	0.40
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 La Sierra University, approximately 47% 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 CA. Actual outcomes may vary.