International Business (Bachelor's Degree) at University of Kansas

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$49,890

Est. from national median (103 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$21,500

Est. from national median (61 programs)

Analysis

Similar international business programs nationally suggest first-year earnings around $49,890 with debt near $21,500—a manageable 0.43 debt-to-earnings ratio that indicates students could theoretically pay off loans in about five months of gross income. That's a solid foundation, particularly when you consider Kansas's affordability advantage and KU's accessible admissions profile.

The challenge here is that the national benchmark sits significantly higher than what Kansas-specific programs report. Wichita State, the only Kansas school with published data, shows graduates earning $38,801—about $11,000 less than the national figure. This gap matters because it suggests location could play a major role in outcomes. If KU's international business graduates stay in Kansas rather than pursue coastal opportunities, they may face the lower earnings typical of the state's market, which would shift that debt ratio from comfortable to tight.

For parents evaluating this investment, the key question becomes geographic flexibility. The estimated national figures look reasonable, but they assume your student will compete in national or international markets where language skills and cultural expertise command higher premiums. If your child plans to build a career in the Midwest, the Kansas-specific data—limited as it is—offers a more conservative lens. The debt load is manageable either way, but the economic payoff hinges substantially on where your graduate lands their first job.

Where University of Kansas Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Kansas

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Kansas (8 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of KansasLawrence	$11,700	$49,890*	—	$21,500*	—
Wichita State UniversityWichita	$9,322	$38,801*	$63,327	$17,399*	0.45
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 University of Kansas, approximately 20% 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.