International Business and Trade: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Q: 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).

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

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)

6,933

Total Graduates (2023-2024)

392

Universities & Colleges

Career Pathways

Career & Salary Outlook Schools Offering This Program Related Programs

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

Salary Comparison

Data Source: Salary and employment data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, May 2024 estimates, based on 4 related occupations. Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics.

*Salary Range Explanation: The salary range represents the 10th to 90th percentile, meaning 80% of workers in this occupation earn within this range. This excludes the lowest 10% and highest 10% of earners to provide a more realistic picture of typical compensation.

Important Disclaimer: Salary data represents national averages and varies by location, experience, employer, and market conditions. These statistics are estimates for general guidance and do not guarantee specific employment outcomes for graduates.

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	Admissions	Location	Control	Website
Florida International University (FIU)	Bachelor's Master's	527	SAT: 1070-1260 ACT: 21-27	Miami, Florida	Public	fiu.edu
University of South Carolina (USC)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	340	SAT: 1180-1360 ACT: 26-32	Columbia, South Carolina	Public	sc.edu
Arizona State University	Bachelor's Master's	253	N/A	Scottsdale, Arizona	Public	asu.edu
Arizona State University Campus Immersion (ASU)	Bachelor's Master's Other Award	221	N/A	Tempe, Arizona	Public	asu.edu
Hult International Business School	Master's	151	N/A	Cambridge, Massachusetts	Private	hult.edu
Fordham University	Bachelor's	136	SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-33	Bronx, New York	Private	fordham.edu
San Diego State University (SDSU)	Bachelor's Master's	111	N/A	San Diego, California	Public	sdsu.edu
Georgetown University (GU)	Bachelor's Master's	109	SAT: 1390-1550 ACT: 31-35	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	georgetown.edu
University of Georgia (UGA)	Bachelor's	100	SAT: 1270-1480 ACT: 29-34	Athens, Georgia	Public	uga.edu
Northeastern University (NU)	Bachelor's	99	SAT: 1440-1540 ACT: 33-35	Boston, Massachusetts	Private	northeastern.edu
Tulane University of Louisiana	Bachelor's Master's	97	SAT: 1400-1520 ACT: 31-34	New Orleans, Louisiana	Private	tulane.edu
George Washington University (GW)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	94	SAT: 1350-1500 ACT: 31-34	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	gwu.edu
Florida Atlantic University (FAU)	Bachelor's Master's Other Award	73	SAT: 1040-1200 ACT: 21-26	Boca Raton, Florida	Public	fau.edu
Pepperdine University	Bachelor's Master's	72	SAT: 1290-1450 ACT: 29-32	Malibu, California	Private	pepperdine.edu
The University of Tampa (UTampa)	Bachelor's	68	N/A	Tampa, Florida	Private	ut.edu
Washington State University (WSU)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	68	N/A	Pullman, Washington	Public	wsu.edu
University of Cincinnati (UC)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	65	SAT: 1160-1370 ACT: 24-29	Cincinnati, Ohio	Public	uc.edu
Lynn University	Bachelor's	61	SAT: 1040-1200 ACT: 21-26	Boca Raton, Florida	Private	lynn.edu
University at Buffalo (UB)	Bachelor's Master's	61	SAT: 1210-1380 ACT: 27-32	Buffalo, New York	Public	buffalo.edu
California State University (CSUF)	Bachelor's	56	N/A	Fullerton, California	Public	fullerton.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	56	SAT: 1160-1410 ACT: 24-32	Richardson, Texas	Public	utdallas.edu
University of Miami (UM)	Master's	55	SAT: 1320-1480 ACT: 30-33	Coral Gables, Florida	Private	miami.edu
Denison University (DU)	Bachelor's	55	SAT: 1320-1490 ACT: 30-33	Granville, Ohio	Private	denison.edu
Ohio State University	Bachelor's	54	SAT: 1310-1480 ACT: 28-32	Columbus, Ohio	Public	osu.edu
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV)	Bachelor's Master's	54	SAT: 880-1090 ACT: 15-21	Edinburg, Texas	Public	utrgv.edu
University of Delaware (UD)	Bachelor's Master's	53	SAT: 1190-1370 ACT: 28-32	Newark, Delaware	Public	udel.edu
University of Arkansas (U of A)	Bachelor's	52	SAT: 1030-1220 ACT: 21-28	Fayetteville, Arkansas	Public	uark.edu
Dickinson College	Bachelor's	51	SAT: 1310-1460 ACT: 30-33	Carlisle, Pennsylvania	Private	dickinson.edu
Duke University	Master's	50	SAT: 1500-1570 ACT: 34-35	Durham, North Carolina	Private	duke.edu
Oklahoma State University (OSU)	Bachelor's	49	SAT: 1040-1250 ACT: 20-27	Stillwater, Oklahoma	Public	okstate.edu
University of Houston (UHD)	Bachelor's	49	SAT: 940-1110 ACT: 16-22	Houston, Texas	Public	uhd.edu
University of Wisconsin-Madison	Bachelor's Other Award	48	SAT: 1380-1520 ACT: 29-33	Madison, Wisconsin	Public	wisc.edu
University of North Florida (UNF)	Bachelor's Master's	46	SAT: 1070-1270 ACT: 19-25	Jacksonville, Florida	Public	unf.edu
Texas A & M University	Other Award	45	SAT: 1150-1400 ACT: 25-31	College Station, Texas	Public	tamu.edu
Illinois State University (ISU)	Bachelor's	44	SAT: 990-1210 ACT: 21-27	Normal, Illinois	Public	illinoisstate.edu
CUNY Bernard M Baruch College	Bachelor's	43	SAT: 1100-1400	New York, New York	Public	baruch.cuny.edu
University of Nevada (UNLV)	Bachelor's	42	SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 18-25	Las Vegas, Nevada	Public	unlv.edu
Rollins College	Bachelor's	41	SAT: 1160-1370 ACT: 25-30	Winter Park, Florida	Private	rollins.edu
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA)	Bachelor's	41	N/A	Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts	Public	maritime.edu
Madonna University	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	41	SAT: 880-1080	Livonia, Michigan	Private	madonna.edu
Loyola University Chicago (LUC)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	40	SAT: 1170-1360 ACT: 27-32	Chicago, Illinois	Private	luc.edu
Bryant University	Bachelor's Master's	38	SAT: 1190-1330 ACT: 27-28	Smithfield, Rhode Island	Private	bryant.edu
Saint Louis University (SLU)	Bachelor's Master's Doctorate (R)	37	SAT: 1200-1410 ACT: 25-31	Saint Louis, Missouri	Private	slu.edu
University of San Diego (USD)	Bachelor's	36	N/A	San Diego, California	Private	sandiego.edu
University of Maryland (UMCP)	Bachelor's	36	SAT: 1400-1530 ACT: 32-35	College Park, Maryland	Public	umd.edu
University of North Carolina at Charlotte	Bachelor's	36	SAT: 1140-1330 ACT: 21-28	Charlotte, North Carolina	Public	charlotte.edu
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM)	Postbac Cert. Other Award	36	ACT: 18-25	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	Public	uwm.edu
University of Hawaii (UHM)	Bachelor's	35	SAT: 1081-1293 ACT: 17-25	Honolulu, Hawaii	Public	manoa.hawaii.edu
Temple University	Bachelor's	35	N/A	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Public	temple.edu
Troy University (TROY)	Master's	34	SAT: 940-1210 ACT: 18-25	Troy, Alabama	Public	troy.edu
Elon University	Bachelor's	34	SAT: 1130-1280 ACT: 23-28	Elon, North Carolina	Private	elon.edu
Howard University (HU)	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1090-1320 ACT: 22-28	Washington, District of Columbia	Private	howard.edu
University of Pittsburgh	Bachelor's Other Award	33	SAT: 1280-1460 ACT: 29-33	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	Public	pitt.edu
Baylor University	Bachelor's	33	SAT: 1200-1400 ACT: 27-32	Waco, Texas	Private	baylor.edu
University of Iowa	Postbac Cert.	32	SAT: 1130-1330 ACT: 21-28	Iowa City, Iowa	Public	uiowa.edu
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College (LSU)	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 1180-1340 ACT: 24-30	Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Public	lsu.edu
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert. Master's	32	SAT: 1150-1355 ACT: 22-27	Greensboro, North Carolina	Public	uncg.edu
Drexel University	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 1240-1440 ACT: 27-32	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	drexel.edu
The University of Texas (UTEP)	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 860-1080 ACT: 17-22	El Paso, Texas	Public	utep.edu
Kennesaw State University (KSU)	Bachelor's	32	SAT: 1000-1220 ACT: 19-26	Kennesaw, Georgia	Public	kennesaw.edu
University of South Florida (USF)	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1130-1320 ACT: 24-29	Tampa, Florida	Public	usf.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's	30	SAT: 1010-1240 ACT: 19-27	Arlington, Texas	Public	uta.edu
College of Charleston (CofC)	Bachelor's	29	SAT: 1140-1310 ACT: 25-30	Charleston, South Carolina	Public	cofc.edu
University of Virginia (UVA)	Master's	29	SAT: 1410-1540 ACT: 32-35	Charlottesville, Virginia	Public	virginia.edu
Bowling Green State University (BGSU)	Bachelor's	28	SAT: 1000-1210 ACT: 19-26	Bowling Green, Ohio	Public	bgsu.edu
Maine Maritime Academy (MMA)	Bachelor's Master's	27	SAT: 1095-1260 ACT: 21-26	Castine, Maine	Public	mainemaritime.edu
The University of Texas	Bachelor's Other Award	27	SAT: 1250-1510 ACT: 27-33	Austin, Texas	Public	utexas.edu
Santa Ana College (SAC)	Associate's Other Award	26	N/A	Santa Ana, California	Public	sac.edu
Boise State University (BBU)	Bachelor's	25	N/A	Boise, Idaho	Public	boisestate.edu
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC)	Postbac Cert.	25	SAT: 1310-1520 ACT: 30-34	Champaign, Illinois	Public	illinois.edu
Cerritos College	Associate's Other Award	24	N/A	Norwalk, California	Public	cerritos.edu
Mt San Antonio College (Mt. SAC)	Associate's Other Award	24	N/A	Walnut, California	Public	mtsac.edu
University of Denver (DU)	Bachelor's	24	SAT: 1240-1410 ACT: 28-33	Denver, Colorado	Private	du.edu
Villanova University	Bachelor's	24	SAT: 1395-1510 ACT: 32-34	Villanova, Pennsylvania	Private	villanova.edu
Saint Joseph's University (SJU)	Bachelor's	23	SAT: 1170-1350 ACT: 28-31	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	Private	sju.edu
Berkeley College	Associate's Bachelor's	22	N/A	New York, New York	Private	berkeleycollege.edu
Western Washington University (WWU)	Bachelor's	22	SAT: 1150-1390 ACT: 24-31	Bellingham, Washington	Public	wwu.edu
Kean University	Bachelor's	21	SAT: 930-1150	Union, New Jersey	Public	kean.edu
Pace University	Bachelor's Master's	21	SAT: 1180-1340 ACT: 24-29	New York, New York	Private	pace.edu
Georgia State University	Master's	20	SAT: 940-1180 ACT: 19-26	Atlanta, Georgia	Public	gsu.edu
Brandeis University	Master's	20	SAT: 1390-1520 ACT: 31-34	Waltham, Massachusetts	Private	brandeis.edu
University of Nevada (UNR)	Bachelor's	20	SAT: 1060-1290 ACT: 19-26	Reno, Nevada	Public	unr.edu
Appalachian State University (App State)	Bachelor's	20	SAT: 1120-1280 ACT: 21-27	Boone, North Carolina	Public	appstate.edu
University of Wisconsin (UWEC)	Bachelor's Other Award	20	ACT: 22-27	Eau Claire, Wisconsin	Public	uwec.edu
University of San Francisco (USF)	Bachelor's	19	SAT: 1190-1390 ACT: 25-30	San Francisco, California	Private	usfca.edu
Fairfield University	Bachelor's	19	SAT: 1260-1390 ACT: 29-32	Fairfield, Connecticut	Private	fairfield.edu
St. Thomas University (STU)	Bachelor's Master's	19	N/A	Miami Gardens, Florida	Private	stu.edu
Butler University	Bachelor's	19	SAT: 1160-1350 ACT: 26-31	Indianapolis, Indiana	Private	butler.edu
Cleveland State University (CSU)	Bachelor's	19	N/A	Cleveland, Ohio	Public	csuohio.edu
University of Memphis (UofM)	Bachelor's Master's	19	SAT: 915-1180 ACT: 18-24	Memphis, Tennessee	Public	memphis.edu
Harding University	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1050-1290 ACT: 20-29	Searcy, Arkansas	Private	harding.edu
Loyola University Maryland	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1200-1370 ACT: 28-32	Baltimore, Maryland	Private	loyola.edu
Tufts University	Master's	18	SAT: 1470-1560 ACT: 33-35	Medford, Massachusetts	Private	tufts.edu
University of Minnesota (UMN)	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1300-1500 ACT: 26-31	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Public	twin-cities.umn.edu
CUNY Queens College	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 1010-1290	Queens, New York	Public	qc.cuny.edu
Saint Edward's University	Bachelor's	18	SAT: 970-1240 ACT: 22-28	Austin, Texas	Private	stedwards.edu
Valdosta State University (VSU)	Bachelor's	17	SAT: 920-1100 ACT: 16-22	Valdosta, Georgia	Public	valdosta.edu
Valparaiso University (Valpo)	Bachelor's Postbac Cert.	17	SAT: 1060-1280 ACT: 23-31	Valparaiso, Indiana	Private	valpo.edu
Augsburg University	Bachelor's	17	N/A	Minneapolis, Minnesota	Private	augsburg.edu
University of Missouri (Mizzou)	Other Award	17	SAT: 1150-1330 ACT: 23-30	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.

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