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

Est. Earnings (1yr)

$55,473

Est. from PA median (7 programs)

Est. Median Debt

$27,000

Est. from PA median (5 programs)

Analysis

Penn's International Business bachelor's degree comes with estimated first-year earnings around $55,500—right at Pennsylvania's median but well below what top competitors like Villanova ($74,500) and Duquesne ($60,700) actually report for their graduates. Given Penn's 6% admission rate and 1545 average SAT score, these figures based on comparable Pennsylvania programs suggest underperformance relative to the institution's selectivity. The estimated $27,000 debt load is modest and creates a manageable 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio, but that's cold comfort when peer programs show significantly stronger earning potential.

The data limitation here matters considerably. Without actual outcomes for Penn's specific program, parents can't assess whether Wharton's brand power and alumni network overcome these middling state averages. The suppressed data could indicate a small graduating cohort or reporting issues—either way, it leaves you guessing about what Penn's particular program delivers. What we do know is that International Business as a field nationally produces $49,890 median earnings, and Pennsylvania programs cluster around $55,000, putting these estimates squarely in the expected range rather than showing any Penn premium.

For a school of Penn's caliber, you'd expect to see earnings data that justify the selectivity. The absence of standout numbers—even estimated ones—signals caution about this particular major choice at this institution.

Where University of Pennsylvania Stands

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

Compare to Similar Programs in Pennsylvania

International Business bachelors's programs at peer institutions in Pennsylvania (45 total in state)

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School	In-State Tuition	Earnings (1yr)*	Earnings (4yr)	Median Debt*	Debt/Earnings
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia	$66,104	$55,473*	—	$27,000*	—
Villanova UniversityVillanova	$64,701	$74,529*	$86,976	$22,250*	0.30
Duquesne UniversityPittsburgh	$47,146	$60,748*	—	—*	—
Dickinson CollegeCarlisle	$63,475	$60,553*	$81,762	$19,000*	0.31
Saint Joseph's University - PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia	$51,340	$55,473*	$78,112	$27,000*	0.49
Drexel UniversityPhiladelphia	$60,663	$54,235*	$86,072	$28,667*	0.53
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 Pennsylvania, approximately 16% 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 7 similar programs in PA. Actual outcomes may vary.