International Business at Loyola University Chicago

With a small graduating class, Loyola's International Business program shows graduates earning $55,496 their first year—solidly above both the Illinois median ($52,424) and national average ($49,890). At 60th percentile among Illinois programs, these outcomes place roughly in the middle of the state's offerings, performing comparably to larger programs at Illinois State and Bradley. The $25,000 debt burden matches the state median and sits below the 75th percentile nationally, yielding a manageable 0.45 debt-to-earnings ratio.

The caveat matters here: with fewer than 30 graduates in the sample, these numbers could shift substantially with a different cohort. One particularly successful graduating class—or one struggling to launch—can dramatically skew the averages. That said, the program's positioning at a well-established urban university in Chicago provides access to corporate headquarters and international trade hubs that smaller Illinois schools can't match.

For parents weighing this program, the fundamentals look reasonable if not spectacular. Your student would likely graduate with debt they can realistically manage while earning moderately above-average wages in a competitive market. The real question is whether Loyola's Chicago network and internship access justify its cost premium over state schools. If your child thrives in urban environments and values corporate connections, the investment makes sense—just recognize you're betting on outcomes from a limited data set.