International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Median Earnings (1yr)

$29,271

5th percentile

10th percentile in Texas

Median Debt

$10,370

56% below national median

Analysis

At $29,271 in first-year earnings, UTRGV's International Business program falls dramatically short of what families should expect. This isn't just below average—it ranks in the bottom 10% both nationally and within Texas, where even the state median sits 43% higher at $41,911. When comparable programs at UT Arlington and UT Dallas are producing graduates earning $48,000+, something is fundamentally not working here.

The relatively low debt of $10,370 provides limited comfort. Yes, graduates avoid crushing loan burdens, but the earnings are so low that many will struggle with basic financial independence regardless. These are salary levels that would be concerning for an associate degree program, let alone a bachelor's in a field meant to prepare students for global business careers. The institution serves a predominantly Pell-eligible population (64%), which makes these weak outcomes especially troubling—these are students who most need degrees to deliver economic mobility.

Parents considering this program need to understand they're looking at post-graduate earnings that may not exceed what their child could earn with just a high school diploma and work experience. Unless your student has compelling reasons to stay local in the Rio Grande Valley and concrete connections to employers there, redirecting to UT Arlington or even Houston-Downtown would likely justify the additional investment through substantially better career prospects.

Where The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Stands

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

Earnings Distribution

How The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley graduates compare to all programs nationally

Compare to Similar Programs in Texas

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

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt	Debt/Earnings
The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyEdinburg	$9,859	$29,271	—	$10,370	0.35
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

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 The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, approximately 64% 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.

Sample Size: Based on 37 graduates with reported earnings and 29 graduates with debt data. Small samples may not be representative.