International Business and Trade: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
International Business and Trade equips students with the strategic knowledge and practical skills needed to navigate the complexities of global commerce. This program focuses on the dynamics of cross-border operations, enabling graduates to lead and optimize business activities across diverse international markets.
- Export Sales Strategies: Explores methods and best practices for entering new markets, structuring international transactions, and building customer relationships abroad.
- Trade Controls and Compliance: Covers regulations, sanctions, licensing requirements, and legal frameworks governing the movement of goods and services across borders.
- Foreign Operations Management: Examines the challenges and logistics of managing business functions—such as supply chains, staffing, and distribution—in international environments.
- International Monetary Systems: Analyzes currency exchange mechanisms, financial risk management, and the impact of global economic fluctuations on business performance.
- Global Business Policy Development: Focuses on crafting strategic policies that align with international regulations, cultural norms, and organizational objectives in a multinational context.
- Market-Specific Business Applications: Provides in-depth analysis of regional economic structures, consumer behaviors, and entry strategies tailored to specific countries and emerging markets.
International Business and Trade Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
International Business and Trade Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with International Business and Trade degrees, including Chief Executives, General and Operations Managers and Business Teachers, Postsecondary. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 5,006,250 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives 11-1011 | $206,420 | $73,710 - $239,200 | 211,850 | $99.24 |
| General and Operations Managers 11-1021 | $102,950 | $47,420 - $239,200 | 3,584,420 | $49.50 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other 13-1199 | $81,270 | $46,230 - $147,830 | 1,128,200 | $39.07 |
International Business and Trade Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $77,315 in Arkansas to $161,345 in District of Columbia—a 109% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 5,006,250 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for International Business and Trade by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 100 institutions offering International Business and Trade programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in International Business and Trade is found at Florida International University (FIU) (527 graduates), University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia (340 graduates), Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (253 graduates), Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) (221 graduates), and Hult International Business School (151 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 5,290 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida International University (FIU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
527 | Miami, Florida | Public | fiu.edu |
| University of South Carolina (USC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
340 | Columbia, South Carolina | Public | sc.edu |
| Arizona State University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
253 | Scottsdale, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
221 | Tempe, Arizona | Public | asu.edu |
| Hult International Business School |
Master's
|
151 | Cambridge, Massachusetts | Private | hult.edu |
| Fordham University |
Bachelor's
|
136 | Bronx, New York | Private | fordham.edu |
| San Diego State University (SDSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
111 | San Diego, California | Public | sdsu.edu |
| Georgetown University (GU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
109 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | georgetown.edu |
| University of Georgia (UGA) |
Bachelor's
|
100 | Athens, Georgia | Public | uga.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
|
99 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| Tulane University of Louisiana |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
97 | New Orleans, Louisiana | Private | tulane.edu |
| George Washington University (GW) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
94 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | gwu.edu |
| Florida Atlantic University (FAU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
73 | Boca Raton, Florida | Public | fau.edu |
| Pepperdine University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
72 | Malibu, California | Private | pepperdine.edu |
| The University of Tampa (UTampa) |
Bachelor's
|
68 | Tampa, Florida | Private | ut.edu |
| Washington State University (WSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
68 | Pullman, Washington | Public | wsu.edu |
| University of Cincinnati (UC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
65 | Cincinnati, Ohio | Public | uc.edu |
| Lynn University |
Bachelor's
|
61 | Boca Raton, Florida | Private | lynn.edu |
| University at Buffalo (UB) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
61 | Buffalo, New York | Public | buffalo.edu |
| California State University (CSUF) |
Bachelor's
|
56 | Fullerton, California | Public | fullerton.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
56 | Richardson, Texas | Public | utdallas.edu |
| University of Miami (UM) |
Master's
|
55 | Coral Gables, Florida | Private | miami.edu |
| Denison University (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
55 | Granville, Ohio | Private | denison.edu |
| Ohio State University |
Bachelor's
|
54 | Columbus, Ohio | Public | osu.edu |
| The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
54 | Edinburg, Texas | Public | utrgv.edu |
| University of Delaware (UD) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
53 | Newark, Delaware | Public | udel.edu |
| University of Arkansas (U of A) |
Bachelor's
|
52 | Fayetteville, Arkansas | Public | uark.edu |
| Dickinson College |
Bachelor's
|
51 | Carlisle, Pennsylvania | Private | dickinson.edu |
| Duke University |
Master's
|
50 | Durham, North Carolina | Private | duke.edu |
| Oklahoma State University (OSU) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Stillwater, Oklahoma | Public | okstate.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
49 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
48 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| University of North Florida (UNF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
46 | Jacksonville, Florida | Public | unf.edu |
| Texas A & M University |
Other Award
|
45 | College Station, Texas | Public | tamu.edu |
| Illinois State University (ISU) |
Bachelor's
|
44 | Normal, Illinois | Public | illinoisstate.edu |
| CUNY Bernard M Baruch College |
Bachelor's
|
43 | New York, New York | Public | baruch.cuny.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNLV) |
Bachelor's
|
42 | Las Vegas, Nevada | Public | unlv.edu |
| Rollins College |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Winter Park, Florida | Private | rollins.edu |
| Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA) |
Bachelor's
|
41 | Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts | Public | maritime.edu |
| Madonna University |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
41 | Livonia, Michigan | Private | madonna.edu |
| Loyola University Chicago (LUC) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
40 | Chicago, Illinois | Private | luc.edu |
| Bryant University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
38 | Smithfield, Rhode Island | Private | bryant.edu |
| Saint Louis University (SLU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
37 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Private | slu.edu |
| University of San Diego (USD) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | San Diego, California | Private | sandiego.edu |
| University of Maryland (UMCP) |
Bachelor's
|
36 | College Park, Maryland | Public | umd.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte |
Bachelor's
|
36 | Charlotte, North Carolina | Public | charlotte.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) |
Postbac Cert.
Other Award
|
36 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Public | uwm.edu |
| University of Hawaii (UHM) |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Honolulu, Hawaii | Public | manoa.hawaii.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
35 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Troy University (TROY) |
Master's
|
34 | Troy, Alabama | Public | troy.edu |
| Elon University |
Bachelor's
|
34 | Elon, North Carolina | Private | elon.edu |
| Howard University (HU) |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | howard.edu |
| University of Pittsburgh |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
33 | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Public | pitt.edu |
| Baylor University |
Bachelor's
|
33 | Waco, Texas | Private | baylor.edu |
| University of Iowa |
Postbac Cert.
|
32 | Iowa City, Iowa | Public | uiowa.edu |
| Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Public | lsu.edu |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
32 | Greensboro, North Carolina | Public | uncg.edu |
| Drexel University |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | drexel.edu |
| The University of Texas (UTEP) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | El Paso, Texas | Public | utep.edu |
| Kennesaw State University (KSU) |
Bachelor's
|
32 | Kennesaw, Georgia | Public | kennesaw.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
|
30 | Arlington, Texas | Public | uta.edu |
| College of Charleston (CofC) |
Bachelor's
|
29 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | cofc.edu |
| University of Virginia (UVA) |
Master's
|
29 | Charlottesville, Virginia | Public | virginia.edu |
| Bowling Green State University (BGSU) |
Bachelor's
|
28 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Public | bgsu.edu |
| Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
27 | Castine, Maine | Public | mainemaritime.edu |
| The University of Texas |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
27 | Austin, Texas | Public | utexas.edu |
| Santa Ana College (SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
26 | Santa Ana, California | Public | sac.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
|
25 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) |
Postbac Cert.
|
25 | Champaign, Illinois | Public | illinois.edu |
| Cerritos College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Norwalk, California | Public | cerritos.edu |
| Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
24 | Walnut, California | Public | mtsac.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Villanova University |
Bachelor's
|
24 | Villanova, Pennsylvania | Private | villanova.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Bachelor's
|
23 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Berkeley College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
22 | New York, New York | Private | berkeleycollege.edu |
| Western Washington University (WWU) |
Bachelor's
|
22 | Bellingham, Washington | Public | wwu.edu |
| Kean University |
Bachelor's
|
21 | Union, New Jersey | Public | kean.edu |
| Pace University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
21 | New York, New York | Private | pace.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
|
20 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Brandeis University |
Master's
|
20 | Waltham, Massachusetts | Private | brandeis.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Appalachian State University (App State) |
Bachelor's
|
20 | Boone, North Carolina | Public | appstate.edu |
| University of Wisconsin (UWEC) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
20 | Eau Claire, Wisconsin | Public | uwec.edu |
| University of San Francisco (USF) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | San Francisco, California | Private | usfca.edu |
| Fairfield University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Fairfield, Connecticut | Private | fairfield.edu |
| St. Thomas University (STU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Miami Gardens, Florida | Private | stu.edu |
| Butler University |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Private | butler.edu |
| Cleveland State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
|
19 | Cleveland, Ohio | Public | csuohio.edu |
| University of Memphis (UofM) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
19 | Memphis, Tennessee | Public | memphis.edu |
| Harding University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Searcy, Arkansas | Private | harding.edu |
| Loyola University Maryland |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Baltimore, Maryland | Private | loyola.edu |
| Tufts University |
Master's
|
18 | Medford, Massachusetts | Private | tufts.edu |
| University of Minnesota (UMN) |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Public | twin-cities.umn.edu |
| CUNY Queens College |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Queens, New York | Public | qc.cuny.edu |
| Saint Edward's University |
Bachelor's
|
18 | Austin, Texas | Private | stedwards.edu |
| Valdosta State University (VSU) |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Valdosta, Georgia | Public | valdosta.edu |
| Valparaiso University (Valpo) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
17 | Valparaiso, Indiana | Private | valpo.edu |
| Augsburg University |
Bachelor's
|
17 | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Private | augsburg.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Other Award
|
17 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about International Business and Trade programs
How much can I earn with a International Business and Trade degree?
Salaries for International Business and Trade graduates vary by role and location. Chief Executives earn a median of $206,420 annually, while General and Operations Managers earn around $102,950. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $161,345 compared to $77,315 in Arkansas. Approximately 5,006,250 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest International Business and Trade programs?
Currently 392 accredited institutions offer International Business and Trade degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Florida International University (FIU) (527 graduates), University of South Carolina (USC), Columbia (340 graduates), and Arizona State University, Digital Immersion (253 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in International Business and Trade growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have decreased over the past decade, rising from 10,673 in 2010 to a peak of 9,874 in 2020, before declining slightly to 6,933 in 2023-24. This represents a 35% decrease overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with consistent demand, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a International Business and Trade degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Chief Executives, General and Operations Managers, and Business Teachers, Postsecondary. Related occupations employ approximately 5,006,250 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
Related Business Programs
Explore similar degree programs within the Business field. These programs share the same academic discipline and may offer complementary skills and career pathways.
Taxation
A program that prepares individuals to provide tax advice and management services to individuals and corporations. Includes instruction in tax law and regulations,...
Insurance Studies
A program that prepares individuals to manage risk in organizational settings and provide insurance and risk-aversion services to businesses, individuals, and other organizations....
Sales and Marketing Operations
A program that focuses on the general process and techniques of direct wholesale and retail buying and selling operations and introduces individuals to...
Merchandising and Buying
A program that prepares individuals to function as professional buyers of resale products and product lines for stores, chains, and other retail enterprises....
Retailing and Retail Operations
A program that prepares individuals to perform operations associated with retail sales in a variety of settings. Includes instruction in over-the-counter and other...
Sales Skills and Operations
A program that prepares individuals to possess the skills associated with direct promotion of products and services to potential customers and to function...