International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Merrimack College

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$25,000

Est. from national median (33 programs)

Analysis

In Massachusetts, where International Business programs typically produce first-year earnings around $68,000, Merrimack's estimated $50,000 falls well short of the state benchmark. While this figure matches the national median for this degree, it's roughly $18,000 below what graduates from similar Massachusetts programs earn—a meaningful gap in a state where International Business degrees generally command stronger salaries. With estimated debt of $25,000, the financial fundamentals look manageable on paper (a 0.50 debt-to-earnings ratio is reasonable), but the question is whether you're getting Massachusetts-level outcomes for Massachusetts tuition.

The comparison with peers is stark: Northeastern's International Business graduates earn over $80,000, while even Massachusetts Maritime hits nearly $55,000. These figures come from actual graduate outcomes, while Merrimack's are estimates based on similar programs nationally, making it difficult to know if their graduates are truly underperforming the state average or if the small sample simply hasn't provided reliable data yet. Either way, the lack of reported outcomes after multiple years raises questions about program scale and job placement tracking.

If your child is set on International Business in Massachusetts, push Merrimack's career services office for concrete placement data—where do graduates actually land, and what are they earning? The estimated numbers suggest you might be paying for a Massachusetts education while getting national-average results, which isn't a compelling value proposition unless there are specific aspects of Merrimack's program (internship networks, faculty connections, industry partnerships) that justify the gap.

Where Merrimack College Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Massachusetts

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Massachusetts (18 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Merrimack CollegeNorth Andover	$51,786	$49,890*	—	$25,000*	—
Northeastern UniversityBoston	$63,141	$80,848*	$91,133	$25,729*	0.32
Massachusetts Maritime AcademyBuzzards Bay	$10,816	$54,741*	$69,477	$25,000*	0.46
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 Merrimack College, approximately 15% 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 national median of 103 similar programs. Actual outcomes may vary.