International Business at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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.