Location: Stephenville, TX•In-State Tuition: $7,878•Out-of-State Tuition: $17,958•Admission Rate: 94%•Avg SAT: 1068
Est. Earnings (1yr)
$41,911
Est. from TX median (9 programs)
Est. Median Debt
$17,734
Est. from TX median (5 programs)

Analysis

Based on comparable International Business programs across Texas, Tarleton's estimated outcomes—$41,911 in first-year earnings against $17,734 in debt—fall squarely at the state median. That's roughly $8,000 below the national median for this degree, but it comes with notably lighter debt than the $23,472 typical nationally. The 0.42 debt-to-earnings ratio is manageable, meaning graduates would owe less than half their first-year salary, a threshold many financial advisors consider reasonable for bachelor's degree debt.

The challenge is context. Similar programs in Texas show a wide range: Saint Edward's grads earn an estimated $51,843 while others cluster in the low-to-mid $40s. Tarleton's 94% admission rate and accessible price point serve a different student population than more selective Texas schools, which likely explains the positioning. For families prioritizing affordability and access, the combination of moderate debt and median-level earnings could work—especially if your student plans to leverage the international focus into a career path with growth potential beyond that first-year figure.

The uncertainty here matters: with actual graduate outcomes suppressed due to small sample sizes, you're making decisions based on statewide patterns rather than this program's track record. If international business is the goal, compare financial aid packages carefully and ask the school directly about graduate placement and career support—those factors become more critical when you can't verify outcomes data.

Where Tarleton State University Stands

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

Tarleton State University (estimated ±10%)Other international business programs

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Texas (30 total in state)

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SchoolIn-State TuitionEarnings (1yr)*Earnings (4yr)Median Debt*Debt/Earnings
Tarleton State UniversityStephenville$7,878$41,911*—$17,734*—
Saint Edward's UniversityAustin$51,384$51,843*$62,711$24,218*0.47
The University of Texas at ArlingtonArlington$11,728$48,625*$54,622$17,999*0.37
Texas A&M University-San AntonioSan Antonio$9,548$46,714*——*—
The University of Texas at DallasRichardson$14,564$44,228*$80,589$17,734*0.40
University of Houston-DowntownHouston$7,708$41,911*$50,379$13,978*0.33
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 Tarleton State University, approximately 37% 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 9 similar programs in TX. Actual outcomes may vary.