Global careers challenge managers with top international business degrees to devise effective operational strategies to excel profitability in diverse worldwide markets. Labeled a “smart career move” by Forbes, working abroad teaches business professionals how to adapt, form cross-cultural partnerships, run larger conglomerates, and speak multiple languages. According to Voxy, bilingual workers can make up to 20% more every hour! Since hordes of global citizens flock to U.S. cities like San Francisco and New York, career openings abroad can be more plentiful. Global Fortune 500 companies, including Glencore, State Grid, Daimler, AXA, Cardinal Health, and Nippon Telegraph, are just a few hiring options. Studying international business is a splendid investment because MBA cohorts claim median pay of $142,000! Therefore, we’ve decided to highlight The Top 25 International Business Degree Programs for Global Careers with six-figure income.
We started building this ranking with a methodology based upon careful research. Our first step was consulting Bloomberg BusinessWeek’s best graduate B-schools for 2017. We sorted the ranking based on average job placement rates within three months of graduation. Only the top 50 were up for consideration with placements of 90% or higher. Next, we researched which qualifying business departments had MBA, Executive MBA, or specialized master’s programs with international emphases. Every graduate program had to be accredited by the AACSB for global recognition with employers. We also prioritized B-schools with extensive experiential learning abroad to open global job offers.
Here are our selections for The Top 25 International Business Degree Programs For Global Careers:
1. University of Washington
Headed by James Jiambalvo, PhD, the University of Washington’s Michael G. Foster School of Business has been located in the $181 million Dempsey Hall since 2012 to serve over 2,500 Huskies near Seattle’s multinational Fortune 500 headquarters. Washington is ranked #1 in the Pacific Northwest by the U.S. News, The Economist, and Financial Times. The 21-month, Full-Time MBA offers an International Focus from the Global Business Center (GBC) to foster managerial careers abroad. Students can benefit from the Strategic Consulting Project, Russell Investments International Case Competition, Trade Development Alliance, and MBA Study Tour to India.
Annual Tuition: $33,339 (in-state) or $48,606 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 98%
2. Rutgers University
Ranked the U.S. News’ most diverse since 1997, Rutgers University’s Business School is currently enrolling 9,177 students at its Newark, New Brunswick, Jersey City, Madison, Singapore, and Mumbai campuses as a prestigious AAU member. Led by Lei Lei, PhD, Rutgers is crowned America’s #1 ROI in Financial Times and #7 best MBA by Ivey Exec. The 60-credit, Full-Time MBA grants a Global Business Concentration with recruiting connections to IBM, Deloitte, GlaxoSmithKline, and others. Rutgers post-grads can attend the CEO Lecture Series, International Student Organization, National Student Exchange Program, and FBLA Leadership Conference.
Annual Tuition: $26,316 (in-state) or $45,688 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 98%
3. University of Chicago
Endowed for $1.034 billion, the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business is named for the Dimensional Fund Advisors co-founder and headed by Madhav V. Rajan, PhD, with 130 tenure-track faculty instructing 3,140 Maroons in the Global Cities Index’s seventh metro. Booth was ranked second by Business Insider and third by Vault worldwide. Affiliated with CEOs for Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Chevron, Gillette, and more, UChicago’s Full-Time MBA provides the International Business Concentration for one IBEP study abroad term and non-native language courses. Graduates might also attend Myron Scholes Global Market Forum events, volunteer with Net Impact, and join Japan Club.
Annual Tuition: $69,200
Job Placement Rate: 98%
4. Washington University in St. Louis
Celebrating its 100th year, the Olin Business School of Washington University in St. Louis has 78 PhD-level faculty teaching 2,188 Bears under Dean Mark Taylor, PhD, at its Brookings Drive campus. Featuring Executives in Residence from Monsanto, Anheuser-Busch, Carnival, and more, WUSTL is a “New Ivy” ranked fifth by Financial Times and 36th in Bloomberg. International business leaders attend Olin’s unique 14-month Global Master of Finance (GMF) in conjunction with IDC Herzliya, Yonsei University, UPF Barcelona, WHU Beisheim, and Singapore Management University. Majors may also intern with JPMorgan Chase, take CEL Consulting Projects, and join Olin Africa Business Club.
Annual Tuition: $48,600
Job Placement Rate: 97%
5. University of Pennsylvania
Located in Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Beijing, the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School has grown since its 1881 inception to support 4,993 degree-seeking Quakers with 224 standing faculty led by Geoffrey Garrett, PhD, a Fulbright Scholar. Wharton is declared the world’s ninth best B-school by Times Higher Ed and third top MBA in Financial Times. Representing 65 nationalities, the Wharton MBA attracts post-grads with a mean GMAT score of 730 into 19 majors, including Multinational Management. International opportunities include joining the MENA Club, PBG Healthcare Consulting team, 17 MBA study abroad programs, and Global Modular Courses.
Annual Tuition: $76,580
Job Placement Rate: 97%
6. University of Minnesota
Gifted $25 million from Curt Carlson in 1986, the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management occupies Herbert M. Hanson, Jr. Hall to teach 2,569 MBA students at Twin Cities, Vienna, and Guangzhou locations with 106 tenured faculty under Dr. Sri Zaheer. Carlson is named America’s second best B-school in CEO World and 25th top MBA by Forbes. Producing alums in 95 countries, the Carlson Full-Time MBA offers a customized International Business Specialization for 64 credits total. Post-grads might consult with Thomson Reuters, spend JTerm in Poland, join the Global Business Association, and more.
Annual Tuition: $38,208 (in-state) or $48,936 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 97%
7. University of Rochester
Directed by Dr. Andrew Ainslie in Schlegel Hall, the University of Rochester’s William E. Simon Business School carries a $96 million endowment within the CGSM to enroll 609 post-grad Yellowjackets in Western New York near Eastman Kodak. Rochester was placed 22nd nationally by The Princeton Review and 30th globally by América Economía. Developed with the Simon EDGE Initiative, the Two-Year, Full-Time MBA has 15 concentrations, including International Management, and required consulting project. Rochester students can also manage the $2 million Venture Capital Fund, take the Israel Trip, intern with Switzerland’s Rychiger AG, and attend the Broaden Your Horizons (BYH) Event.
Annual Tuition: $46,600
Job Placement Rate: 96%
8. Northwestern University
Known for helping establish the GMAT, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management utilizes a 110-year history and $853 million endowment to “Inspire Growth” in 1,162 post-grad Wildcats on campuses in Evanston, Chicago, and Miami. Chaired by Dr. Sally Blount of Abbot Laboratories, Kellogg is deemed the globe’s 14th best B-school by QS with the sixth top MBA in Business Insider. The Two-Year Full-Time MBA started the International Business Major in 2010 for nurturing global acuity via 37 exchange programs. Students can also work in the International Growth Lab, attend the Latin America Business Conference, and join Kellogg Emerging Markets Club.
Annual Tuition: $68,955
Job Placement Rate: 96%
9. University of Miami
Enrolling 513 post-grad Hurricanes, the University of Miami’s School of Business Administration is a private, nonsectarian GMAC member founded in 1929 that’s now led by John Quelch, PhD, in Coral Gables with extensions to China, India, and Brazil. Among U.S. B-schools, Miami ranked 16th in The Wall Street Journal and 58th in Bloomberg. Operating the Ziff Career Services Center, the 56-credit, Full-Time MBA admits cohorts into 12 concentrations like International Business each January. Prepare for global careers by taking GLOBE trips, becoming GBC Scholars, joining Consulting Club, and attending Johnson A. Edosomwan Leadership Institute lectures.
Annual Tuition: $68,252
Job Placement Rate: 96%
10. Georgia Institute of Technology
Occupying a $180 million multi-building complex in Atlanta’s Technology Square with the Ferris-Goldsmith Trading Floor, the Ernest Scheller, Jr. College of Business at Georgia Tech is headed by Dr. Maryam Alavi with 1,510 Yellow Jackets enrolled. Scheller is recognized for America’s 21st best MBA in Forbes and fourth best student experience by Bloomberg. The 22-month, 54-credit Master of Business Administration admits International Business Concentration post-grads each August to hone global skills. Majors also benefit from the Jones MBA Career Center, International Practicum Elective from Ireland to Singapore, Lean Six Sigma Certification, and Scheller IB Club.
Annual Tuition: $29,232 (in-state) or $40,180 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 96%
11. Indiana University Bloomington
Linked to 44,547 alumni on LinkedIn, including Mark Cuban, Klaus Agthe, and Harold Poling, Indiana University Bloomington’s Kelley School of Business is located in the $60 million Hodge Hall to educate over 7,500 Hoosiers under Dean Idalene Kesner, PhD. Kelley is crowned America’s seventh best B-school by Poets & Quants with the 19th top MBA in Forbes. Attracting 175+ recruiters annually, the Full-Time MBA offers the Global Business Achievement Certificate during the Second-Year Academy. Other international opportunities include taking GLOBASE consulting projects, studying abroad from Vietnam to Venezuela, and joining the Global Business Society.
Annual Tuition: $26,265 (in-state) or $47,127 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 95%
12. University of Florida
Opened in 1926, the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business stands in Bryan Hall under Dr. John Kraft’s leadership to enlighten 7,400 Gators at an 8:1 graduate ratio in Gainesville. Warrington was ranked America’s 48th best B-school by Bloomberg with the fifth highest admission selectivity on the U.S. News report. Mandating a 3.0 GPA, the Master of International Business has January, June, and August start dates for the 30-credit, 12-month curriculum. Students could take MIB Immersion trips to 20+ countries, join Hough Study Tours overseas, become Warrington Diplomats, and attend the CIBER Business Language Conference.
Annual Tuition: $15,921 (in-state) or $36,213 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 95%
13. University of Virginia
Ranked #1 for educational experience in The Economist, the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business selectively admits 345 post-grad Cavaliers, 30 percent of whom are foreign, for globe-centric curriculum in Charlottesville. Chaired by Scott C. Beardsley, EdD, the Darden MBA is placed 11th by Forbes and 12th by Vault. Attracting managers at an average age of 34, the 21-month Global Executive MBA combines online assignments with six-day residences in Brazil, China, Europe, and India. Individuals also network with alumni in 90 countries, access the Business Roundtable Institute, and join Global Business & Culture Club.
Annual Tuition: $62,800 (in-state) or $65,800 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 95%
14. Northeastern University
Strategically investing the 360 Huntington Fund, Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business is a private, nonprofit AACSB member renamed in 2012 after Alan McKim’s $60 million gift to help educate 4,300 Huskies in Boston’s Back Bay district. Chaired by Raj Echambadi, PhD, the D’Amore-McKim School was ranked 21st by the U.S. News and second by Advances in Financial Education. The 30-credit, 12-month M.S. in International Business begins each Fall with daytime courses and at least one 10-day field study abroad. Career preparation options include interning with Toyota, joining Net Impact Club, and attending the FAS Center for Global Business Conference.
Annual Tuition: $28,080
Job Placement Rate: 95%
15. Texas A&M University
Endowed by iHeartMedia co-founder Lowry Mays, Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School is a public, coeducational Washington Campus Consortium member that’s serving 6,408 Aggies in College Station under Dean Eli Jones, PhD. According to Bloomberg, TAMU is America’s 39th best B-school with the 22nd top Master of Business Administration. In the Wehner Building, the selective, accelerated 18-Month Full-Time MBA lets small Mays post-grad cohorts add the International Business Certificate. For opening global careers, students might take the Spain El Camino trip, enter the CIBS Semester Exchange, attend the HPAIR Conference, or join Mays Impacts.
Annual Tuition: $36,079 (in-state) or $52,471 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 94%
16. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Sponsoring the Forté Career Lab, the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is reaching its 100th anniversary of providing case-study curricula for 574 Tar Heels in the 191,000-square-foot McColl Building. Headed by Dr. Douglas Shackelford, the Kenan-Flagler MBA was ranked seventh by the Aspen Institute and 11th by The Princeton Review. Executives entering the 21-month Global OneMBA benefit from four week-long residencies in Mexico, the Netherlands, China, and Brazil. Waiving GMAT scores, the program includes access to the Hodges Leadership Center, Credit Suisse Case Competition, and 200+ recruiters like Cisco.
Annual Tuition: $49,060 (in-state) or $64,182 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 94%
17. Emory University
Named for the late Coca-Cola CEO in 1994, Emory University’s Roberto C. Goizueta Business School uses personalized feedback from Fortune 500s to improve AACSB-accredited education for 1,237 Eagles in Atlanta’s Druid Hills district. Chaired by Dr. Erika Hayes James, Goizueta is ranked the 23rd best B-school by Forbes with the 25th top MBA globally in The Economist. Starting each August, the Two-Year MBA allows full-time graduates to select from 26 concentrations, including Global Management and Global Financial Reporting Analysis. International experiences include mid-semester travel modules to Thailand or Norway, Goizueta IMPACT projects, Delta Air Lines leadership coaching, and Cultural Council events.
Annual Tuition: $59,616
Job Placement Rate: 94%
18. Duke University
Affiliated with famous alumni like Melinda Gates, Tim Cook, and Jonathan Browning, Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business is endowed for $267 million under William Boulding, PhD, to nurture 1,572 Blue Devils from Durham, North Carolina. Duke is declared the world’s 13th best B-school by The Economist with the 11th top MBA on Poets & Quants. Beginning each July, the 17-month Global Executive MBA lets cohorts with 5-20 years of experience team up for residencies in Chile, China, India, and Germany. The Career Management Center has 1:1 coaching for GEMBA students in Energy & Environment, Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, and Strategy concentrations.
Annual Tuition: $65,665
Job Placement Rate: 94%
19. New York University
Founded by Charles Waldo Haskins in 1900, New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business has 329 full-time faculty, including three Nobel Laureates, to instruct 3,379 post-grad Violets as a private, prestigious B-school in Lower Manhattan. Headed by Dr. Peter Blair Henry, Stern was ranked 18th globally by the Aspen Institute and 12th in North America by QS. The Full-Time MBA partners with 47 schools across 30 countries for Global Business Specialization students branching abroad. Other experiential opportunities include the Stern Consulting Corps, Rosenwald Global Value Fund, Board Fellows Program, and Doing Business In (DBI) trips.
Annual Tuition: $69,086
Job Placement Rate: 94%
20. Georgetown University
Receiving 3,375 applications yearly, Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business is a Catholic, civic-oriented AACSB member headed by Dr. Paul Almeida in the Rafik B. Hariri Building in Washington, DC. McDonough is crowned America’s 35th best B-school in Forbes and 22nd top MBA by the U.S. News. Starting with the three-week Structure of Global Industries workshop, the One-Year M.A. in International Business & Policy infuses Jesuit values into social action projects and foreign service preparation. Students, 32% of whom are foreign, spend seven-day modules in Santiago, Frankfurt, and Beijing and research with the Global Social Enterprise Initiative.
Annual Tuition: $75,000
Job Placement Rate: 93%
21. Vanderbilt University
Endowed for $277 million, Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management was founded in 1969 and later named for the American Express Chairman in Nashville, Tennessee, to produce 8,304 living alumni. Directed by Dr. Eric Johnson, Owen was placed 29th by Financial Times and 34th in Bloomberg BusinessWeek nationwide. Offering the “Americas Advantage,” the 21-month Global Executive MBA integrates Vanderbilt daytime courses with 10-week immersions in Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. Cross-cultural teams of managers with 5+ years of experience can also enter the Leadership Development Program, innovate in the Turner Family Center, join Prospanica, and become Ingram Scholars.
Annual Tuition: $53,990
Job Placement Rate: 93%
22. Ohio State University
Reporting a 3:1 student-faculty ratio under Dean Anil K. Makhija, PhD, Ohio State University’s Max M. Fisher College of Business is a founding AACSB member endowed for $120 million that serves 5,552 Buckeyes in Columbus. Affiliated with Ataturk University, Fisher is ranked America’s 14th best public B-school by Financial Times with the third best career prospects by The Economist. The Full-Time MBA International Business Major spans 57 credits starting with the two-week Leadership Development Intensive. Graduates also complete Global Applied Projects, contribute to the Sustainable Business Global Lab, secure London Internships, and join Fisher CARES.
Annual Tuition: $31,139 (in-state) or $52,611 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 92%
23. University of Southern California
Housed in Los Angeles’ $20-million, 55,000-square-foot Popovich Hall, the Marshall School of Business for the University of Southern California is a private, cutting-edge AACSB member founded in 1920 that’s now enrolling a Trojan Family of 5,385. Organized by Dr. James Ellis, Marshall was placed America’s 24th best MBA by the U.S. News and 48th top B-school in Financial Times. Admitting cohorts of 55 each July, the 12-month International MBA for Mid-Career Professionals requires a four-month consulting project abroad. Managers benefit from becoming IBEAR Global Business Fellows, taking the 10-day trip to Asia, and networking with partners like Mitsubishi and McKinsey.
Annual Tuition: $60,951
Job Placement Rate: 92%
24. University of Michigan
Noted for the Erb Institute of Global Sustainable Enterprise, the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business is directed by Scott DeRue, PhD, and endowed for $435 million to instruct 1,873 post-grad Wolverines from Tappan Hall in Ann Arbor. Publishing the Monroe Street Journal, Ross is ranked the world’s third most productive research department and ninth best MBA by Bloomberg. The 16-month Global MBA pairs rigorous classroom instruction with one-month immersions in China, Japan, and Korea. Majors also tackle Multidisciplinary Action Projects (MAP), work with Atlas Consulting Corp, and join ACED.
Annual Tuition: $62,300 (in-state) or $67,300 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 92%
25. University of Texas – Dallas
Serving 8,919 Comets, the University of Texas-Dallas’ Naveen Jindal School of Management is coordinated by Dean Hasan Pirkul, PhD, as a public, state-sponsored AACSB member in Richardson near AT&T and Samsung locations. The JSOM is declared America’s sixth best B-school for ROI in The Wall Street Journal with the 30th highest satisfaction rate on Bloomberg. Using the Power of Two Mentoring model, UT-Dallas confers the 18-month M.S. in International Management Studies with six concentrations like HR, Finance, Marketing, and Supply Chain. Majors take week-long Jindal Global Experiences from Havana to Helsinki and join the World Affairs Council.
Annual Tuition: $8,244 (in-state) or $17,616 (out-of-state)
Job Placement Rate: 90%