International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at Murray State University

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,500

Est. from national median (61 programs)

Analysis

Peer programs in international business nationally suggest starting earnings around $49,900, which would put Murray State's graduates roughly in line with the typical business grad—hardly a standout figure, but serviceable for Kentucky's cost of living. The estimated $21,500 in debt sits comfortably below the national median of $23,472, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.43. That translates to roughly five months of gross income to cover the full debt load, which is reasonable territory for a bachelor's degree.

The challenge here is that we're working entirely with estimates derived from comparable programs nationwide, since Murray State's actual graduate outcomes aren't published due to small sample sizes. This means you're evaluating a program based on what similar international business degrees produce elsewhere, not what Murray State's specific alumni have achieved. For a field as employer- and location-dependent as international business, that gap matters—regional connections, internship pipelines, and local industry presence can dramatically shift outcomes.

Given Murray State's 86% admission rate and the limited number of international business programs in Kentucky (just three statewide), this appears positioned as an accessible entry point rather than a competitive launchpad. If your child has concrete plans for leveraging the degree—study abroad opportunities, specific language skills, or connections to companies with international operations—the estimated debt load won't sink them. But without clearer data on where graduates actually land, you're betting on potential rather than proven track record.

Where Murray State University Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs Nationally

International Business bachelors's programs at top institutions nationally

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
Murray State UniversityMurray	$9,708	$49,890*	—	$21,500*	—
Georgetown UniversityWashington	$65,081	$81,800*	$101,821	$14,447*	0.18
Northeastern UniversityBoston	$63,141	$80,848*	$91,133	$25,729*	0.32
Villanova UniversityVillanova	$64,701	$74,529*	$86,976	$22,250*	0.30
Ashford UniversitySan Diego	$13,160	$71,369*	$61,843	$27,195*	0.38
University of South Carolina-ColumbiaColumbia	$12,688	$70,992*	$89,299	$25,174*	0.35
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 Murray State University, approximately 31% 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.