Today’s business world is shrinking as more companies take their products or services to the global stage. Being able to meet complex international regulations and widely varying cultural customs is extremely difficult. One study from the Harvard Business Review found that the average return on assets for young international companies is negative 1 percent. That’s precisely why expanding corporations are seeking employees with international business education to succeed. International business majors are available from the associate to doctoral level for students wishing to travel and work across borders. Studying international business can prepare you for many of the top business jobs, including operations research analyst, management consultant, trade manager, business operations manager, and finance manager.
Finding the ideal international business school for you will require some homework. We’ve helped begin your search by outlining our picks for the 10 Best International Business Schools (On Campus). We narrowed down universities in the United States offering on-campus programs accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). We looked for B-schools maintaining strong partnerships overseas for study abroad options. The U.S. News and World Report‘s rankings were consulted to judge academic quality and prestige. Average annual tuition for in-state students was recorded from the NCES College Navigator. Other crucial factors were campus diversity, foreign language training, class size, financial aid, hands-on experiences, degree range, and placement rate.
Here are the 10 Best International Business Schools (On Campus):
1. University of South Carolina
Established in 1801 by Governor John Drayton to smooth relations between the Lowcountry and Backcountry, the University of South Carolina is a flagship public, sea-grant RU/VH research institution educating approximately 49,200 students systemwide. Based on a 359-acre urban campus in South Carolina’s capital of Columbia, USC is split into 14 colleges, including the AACSB-accredited Darla Moore School of Business. Listed among the “Most Promising and Innovative Schools,” Carolina is ranked America’s 107th best university and 49th top public college by the USNWR. Placed 36th nationally on the Open Doors Report for study abroad opportunity, USC confers the #1 best international business degrees nationally.
The University of South Carolina’s Sonoco International Business Department is world-renowned for advancing students’ strategies for doing business globally. Undergraduates can pursue the 122-credit Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an International Business Major. Tracks are available for China, Egypt, Chile, France, and Multicultural trips. IB students must complete four 300-level courses in foreign language and complete a global internship. Graduates can earn the Masters of International Business with a second master’s degree in Turkey, Germany, Italy, France, or Hong Kong in two years. Entrants to the premier Moore School have an average GMAT score of 653. There’s even a Doctor of Business Administration in International Business or Finance.
Annual Tuition: $11,482 (undergrad) or $12,384 (grad)
2. University of Pennsylvania
Belonging to the elite Association of American Universities (AAU), the University of Pennsylvania is a private, non-sectarian research institution offering quality Ivy League education since 1740. With selective enrollment surpassing 24,800, Penn encompasses a 1,094-acre urban campus in Philadelphia along the Schuylkill River. Endowed for a whopping $10.1 billion, UPenn is ranked America’s eighth best university and third most military-friendly school by the U.S. News. The University of Pennsylvania claimed the #17 spot among the Princeton Review’s “Colleges That Pay You Back.” Holding AACSB accreditation, the Wharton School of Business also has the world’s 10th best MBA according to The Economist.
At UPenn, the Wharton School collaborates with the College of Arts and Sciences to deliver the Huntsman Program in International Business. This rigorous, four-year program allows students to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies concurrently. Completing the 40-unit program will include advanced language training on one of 11 tracks from Arabic to Spanish. At least one semester must be completed abroad at premier schools like Tsinghua University or St. Petersburg State University. Penn graduates could pursue the MBA/M.A. Lauder Joint Degree in International Business. This intensive, 24-month program includes completing two Intercultural Ventures and the Global Knowledge Lab thesis.
Annual Tuition: $49,536 (undergrad) or $31,068 (grad)
3. New York University
Affiliated with 38 Nobel Prize winners, New York University is one of the nation’s largest private, nonprofit research institutions carrying a $3.5 billion endowment to educate over 57,200 students. Though its main 230-acre urban campus is located in Lower Manhattan, NYU has Global Academic Centers scattered from Tel Aviv and Madrid to Sydney and Buenos Aires. The elite AAU member is named America’s 36th best university and 13th most innovative college by the U.S. News. NYU has spent three years at #1 in the Princeton Review’s “Dream Schools” list. With AACSB accreditation, the Stern School of Business is recognized for the second best bachelor’s in international business.
New York University’s Bachelor of Science in Business program offers a first-rate liberal arts foundation for 11 concentrations, including Global Business. Starting with the Cohort Leadership Program (CLP), the four-year program features a four-course global sequence. Stern IBEX Partner schools span from Copenhagen to Melbourne for at least one semester away. Students can also join the NYU International Business Association. The Stern Full-Time MBA allows graduates to select three specializations, such as Global Business or Global Finance. Opportunities abound with the Stern Consulting Corps, Board Fellows Program, and Social Impact Internship. Experienced professionals could also pursue the TRIUM Global Executive MBA with the HEC Paris School of Management.
Annual Tuition: $47,750 (undergrad) or $38,592 (grad)
Learn more about New York University’s International Business School and Degree Programs here.
4. University of California – Berkeley
Founded in 1868 under the Dwinelle Bill as California’s first full-curriculum college, the University of California – Berkeley has evolved into a flagship public, land-grant research institution with its $4 billion endowment. From its sprawling 1,232-acre urban campus on the eastern shores of San Francisco Bay, UC Berkeley educates over 38,200 students in 14 schools, including the AACSB-accredited Haas School of Business. The U.S. News ranked Berkeley as the 20th best national university and top public school. Washington Monthly picked the University of California – Berkeley as America’s 11th best bang for the buck. UC Berkeley also boasts the third best undergraduate international business education.
Future business leaders at UC Berkeley’s Haas School can earn the Bachelor of Science in Business with a Global Management Concentration. The 120-unit program will include three international business electives and six semesters of foreign language study. An international study edge enhances subjects like accounting, finance, and marketing. One semester is spent participating in the Education Abroad Program (EAP) in countries like China or Ireland. Graduates could complete the Berkeley MBA full-time with an International Focus. Learners hail from 30+ countries to study business fundamentals from a global perspective. The award-winning International Business Development (IBD) Center offers consulting projects abroad.
Annual Tuition: $13,431 (undergrad) or $11,220 (grad)
5. University of Chicago
Endowed for $7.5 billion, the University of Chicago is a private, doctoral-granting RU/VH research institution enlightening over 15,700 co-educational students and employing 34 MacArthur Genius Grant recipients. Located on a 217-acre urban campus in the Hyde Park neighborhood of America’s third largest city, UChicago is split into the College and six professional schools, including the AACSB-accredited Booth School of Business. The U.S. News ranked Chicago as the third best university and 13th top value nationwide. Times Higher Education placed the University of Chicago among the world’s 10 best universities. UChicago also houses the second best graduate business programs in America.
Although there’s solely a Global Studies major for undergraduates, advanced international business options proliferate Chicago’s Booth School. Graduate students can obtain the 20-class Master of Business Administration full-time with 13 flexible concentrations, such as International Business. Completing this concentration requires five IB courses, oral proficiency in one non-native language, and one study abroad term. The 33 partnering schools overseas span the globe from Belgium to Japan and South Africa. MBA students could join the European Business Group or Myron Scholes Global Markets Forum. There’s also a Dual MBA/M.A. in International Relations offered. Executive MBA students could even attend classes fully in Hong Kong or London.
Annual Tuition: $51,351 (undergrad) or $51,624 (grad)
Learn more about the University of Chicago’s International Business School and Degree Programs here.
6. Georgetown University
Celebrating a rich Jesuit heritage, Georgetown University is the oldest private, nonprofit RU/VH research institution affiliated with the Society of Jesus to educate over 17,800 students. Since its founding in 1789 upon a hilly 104-acre urban campus in Washington, DC, overlooking the Potomac, Georgetown has expanded with auxiliary locations in Italy, Qatar, and Turkey. With a 96 percent retention rate, Georgetown is the 20th best national university and 34th best value college according to the USNWR. In particular, the AACSB-accredited McDonough School of Business is lauded for America’s sixth best international business degrees. Financial Times also selected Georgetown University for the 44th best MBA globally.
Undergraduates enrolling in the McDonough School develop a global mindset by majoring their Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business Regional Studies. This 40-course program begins with a First-Year Seminar before sharpening critical reasoning skills for our international economy. Georgetown sophomores could complete the Global Business Fellows Program with the Walsh School of Foreign Service too. At the graduate level, there are several curriculum options, including a Full-Time MBA with International Business Diplomacy Certificate. The 12-month Master of Arts in International Business and Policy includes four intensive residencies in DC and another two abroad. There’s also a Corporate International Master’s focused on Emerging Latin America Markets.
Annual Tuition: $48,611 (undergrad) or $44,712 (grad)
Learn more about the Georgetown University’s International Business School and Degree Programs here.
7. University of Texas at Austin
Attracting over 50,900 enthusiastic Longhorns, the University of Texas at Austin is a flagship public, space-grant institution with “very high research activity” that’s seen expenditures exceed $500 million yearly. UT Austin’s spacious 434-acre urban campus is ideally located in the state’s fast-growing capital within Texas Hill County. For 2017, Texas was named America’s 56th best national university and 18th top public college by the USNWR. The “Public Ivy” was crowned the #1 best source for Fortune 1000 CEOs on USA Today. Achieving elite AACSB approval, the McCombs School of Business was recognized for the sixth best undergraduate business degrees in the United States.
Graded A+ for job placement by Bloomberg BusinessWeek, the University of Texas at Austin’s Bachelor of Business Administration is celebrating 100 years of excellence. This cost-effective program offers an International Business Major for integrated business knowledge on one world region. Partnerships exist in 29 countries across Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, and North America for the required overseas experience. Majors also join the Global Business and Microfinance Brigades. Graduates pursuing the McCombs Full-Time MBA may concentrate in Global Business in partnership with schools like the Indian Institute of Management or Aalto University. Dual MBA degrees also include a Master of Global Policy Studies and Master of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies.
Annual Tuition: $9,806 (undergrad) or $10,934 (grad)
8. University of South Florida
With a selective admission rate of 43 percent, the University of South Florida is a top-tier public, space-grant research institution endowed for $417 million to enroll around 48,700 students. The Sunshine State’s fourth largest university is located on a 1,913-acre urban campus in Tampa with extensions in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. Conferring 210+ majors total, USF houses the AACSB-accredited Muma College of Business on Fowler Avenue. The U.S. News recognized South Florida as the 159 best national university and 83rd top public school. Washington Monthly picked USF for the 78th most “contribution to the public good.” Students can find the 22nd best graduate business programs here.
The University of South Florida’s Bachelor of Arts in International Business program melds business coursework with language training and overseas experience. IB majors must declare minors in finance, management, marketing, economics, or information systems. Students benefit from participating in the Corporate Mentor Program, Muma Leadership Initiative, and 100+ study exchange programs from Morocco to Uruguay. Powered by analytics, the USF MBA features customized majors like International Business. Graduates complete three global-based courses and arrange an international internship. MBA courses are conveniently scheduled in four, eight, 12, and 16-week sessions for acceleration. Students often complete real-world consulting projects through the ISDS Practice Center.
Annual Tuition: $6,410 (undergrad) or $8,350 (grad)
9. San Diego State University
Opened as the San Diego Normal School in 1897 for female teachers, San Diego State University has expanded dramatically to become the county’s largest public, space-grant research institution with 34,200 co-eds. Following the motto “Leadership Starts Here,” SDSU stands upon a 283-acre urban campus in Southern California just 120 miles from the Mexican international border. The U.S. News lauded SDSU as the 146th best national university and 74th top public college. Honored with the Insight into Diversity Higher Education Excellence Award, San Diego State University was ranked 15th by the Institute for International Education. The AACSB-accredited College of Business Administration also features the 136th top part-time MBA.
Offered jointly with the College of Arts and Letters, SDSU’s Bachelor of Arts in International Business program takes an interdisciplinary approach to global leadership. Students select a language emphasis, such as French, Spanish, Korean, Arabic, or Russian. This program attracts over 500 majors by beautifully blending cultural studies with rigorous business training. International business students must complete a study abroad exchange with top B-schools from Taiwan to Germany. Available full-time or part-time, the Master of Business Administration provides an International Business Specialization. This on-campus program involves evening classes that culminate in an industry consulting project with companies like Marriott and Microsoft.
Annual Tuition: $6,976 (undergrad) or $6,738 (grad)
10. University of Hawaii at Manoa
Occupying a 320-acre urban campus in the eastern half of Manoa Valley just three miles from downtown Honolulu, the University of Hawaii’s flagship public, land-grant and sea-grant research institution has a distinguished history since 1907. Enrolling over 20,400 diverse students on the Pacific Rim, UH Manoa houses 19 top-notch schools, including the Shidler College of Business and its AACSB-accredited programs. The U.S. News crowned Hawaii as America’s 169th best university and 89th best public school. Times Higher Education placed the University of Hawaii at Manoa among the globe’s top 250. UH also provides the 15th best undergraduate international business education nationally.
With an Asia-Pacific focus, Shidler College awards UH Manoa students an International Business Major for the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA). This flexible, unstructured program allows students to select double majors in disciplines like accounting and human resource management. Undergraduates must complete three years of foreign language, an international exchange program, and multi-national internship. At the graduate level, the Full-Time Global MBA features an international focus with China and Japan tracks. Multicultural students collaborate for consulting practicum and business plain competitions. On average, MBA students have six years of experience. Those with more could pursue the Vietnam Executive MBA in Ho Chi Minh or Hanoi.
Annual Tuition: $11,164 (undergrad) or $14,232 (grad)