Est. Earnings (1yr)
$57,396
Est. from OH median (12 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$25,000
Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

International business programs in Ohio show surprising consistency, with similar programs across the state clustering around $57,400 in first-year earnings—right at the national 75th percentile for this field. Lake Erie College's program appears positioned in this middle tier, suggesting graduates enter a relatively stable regional job market where international business skills command decent entry-level compensation, regardless of where you earn the degree.

The estimated $25,000 in debt sits slightly above the national median but below Ohio's typical $27,000, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.44. That's manageable by most standards—graduates would owe less than half their first year's salary, which typically allows for reasonable monthly payments while building a career. The real question is whether international business offers meaningful differentiation from a standard business degree in Ohio's corporate landscape, where manufacturing and healthcare dominate over global trade hubs.

For an anxious parent, the fundamentals look solid if your student is genuinely interested in international commerce: estimated earnings that match strong performers statewide, debt that shouldn't become crushing, and a career path with clear corporate applications. Just recognize these figures come from peer programs rather than Lake Erie's own track record, so there's less certainty about outcomes than you'd have with a program reporting actual graduate data. If your student could succeed at Ohio State (which reports nearly identical earnings), that's worth comparing directly.

Where Lake Erie College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Ohio

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Ohio (36 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Lake Erie CollegePainesville$36,032$57,396*—$25,000*—
Ohio State University-Main CampusColumbus$12,859$57,678*$69,493$27,000*0.47
Ohio University-Eastern CampusSaint Clairsville$6,178$57,396*—$27,000*0.47
Ohio University-Chillicothe CampusChillicothe$6,178$57,396*—$27,000*0.47
Ohio University-Southern CampusIronton$6,178$57,396*—$27,000*0.47
Ohio University-Lancaster CampusLancaster$6,178$57,396*—$27,000*0.47
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 Lake Erie College, approximately 29% 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 12 similar programs in OH. Actual outcomes may vary.