Location: Erie, PA•In-State Tuition: $44,510•Admission Rate: 83%
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$55,473
Est. from PA median (7 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$27,000
Est. from PA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Based on similar Pennsylvania programs, an international business degree here appears to track closely with state norms—estimated first-year earnings of $55,473 and debt around $27,000 translate to a debt-to-earnings ratio under 0.5, a workable starting point for most graduates. That's solidly in the middle of Pennsylvania's international business programs, though it lags elite options like Villanova ($74,529) or Duquesne ($60,748). Nationally, these estimated Pennsylvania figures run about $5,500 higher than the median, suggesting the state's job market for international business grads offers some advantage.

The challenge here is uncertainty. With no reported data for Mercyhurst specifically, you're investing based on what peer programs produce rather than verified outcomes from this school's placement pipeline. At $27,000 in debt, repayment should be manageable if your child lands near that $55,000 estimate, but international business careers vary widely by employer and location—some grads end up in supply chain roles paying well, others struggle in generic business positions. The 83% admission rate suggests Mercyhurst isn't highly selective, which could affect employer perception and alumni networks compared to the Villanovas of the world.

If your child has admission offers from programs with actual earnings data, prioritize those for comparison. Otherwise, understand you're betting on Mercyhurst delivering outcomes comparable to the Pennsylvania average without proof that it does.

Where Mercyhurst University Stands

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

Mercyhurst University (estimated ±10%)Other international business programs

Dashed lines show national medians. Upper-left = best value.

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (45 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Mercyhurst UniversityErie$44,510$55,473*—$27,000*—
Villanova UniversityVillanova$64,701$74,529*$86,976$22,250*0.30
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh$47,146$60,748*——*—
Dickinson CollegeCarlisle$63,475$60,553*$81,762$19,000*0.31
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia$51,340$55,473*$78,112$27,000*0.49
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia$60,663$54,235*$86,072$28,667*0.53
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 Mercyhurst University, approximately 30% 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 7 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.