by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying International Business/Trade/Commerce explores International Business/trade/commerce. A Program That Prepares Individuals To Manage International Businesses And/or Business Operations. Includes Instruction In The Principles And Processes Of Export Sales, Trade Controls, Foreign Operations And Related Problems, Monetary Issues, International Business Policy, And Applications To Doing Business In Specific Countries And Markets. Examples: [Global Business], [Global Commerce], [Global Management]. Read on to learn the essential details every international business/trade/commerce major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering international business/trade/commerce programs.
Across the country, international business/trade/commerce is a popular field of study, with 6,933 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best International Business/Trade/Commerce Schools ranking analyzes these 392 schools to determine the best overall colleges for international business/trade/commerce students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of international business/trade/commerce programs later in this article.
Coursework for International Business/Trade/Commerce emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations international business/trade/commerce graduates commonly enter.
The skill set emphasized by a international business/trade/commerce program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a international business/trade/commerce major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several international business/trade/commerce degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 20 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 105 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 4,828 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 1,953 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 26 |
People currently working in careers related to international business/trade/commerce tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 42.9% |
| Master’s degree | 24.3% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 8.0% |
| Some college courses | 6.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.2% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 4.6% |
| Doctoral degree | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 2.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.3% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.5% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
| First professional degree | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in international business/trade/commerce careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
A degree in international business/trade/commerce prepares you for numerous career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to international business/trade/commerce.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to international business/trade/commerce.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Chief Executives | 374,558 | -2.8% |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 181,317 | 10.6% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of international business/trade/commerce graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $59,636 |
| 4 years | $68,510 |
| 5 years | $80,462 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for international business/trade/commerce graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers international business/trade/commerce grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | $149,694 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
| Security Management Specialists | $128,654 |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | $113,637 |
| Online Merchants | $106,971 |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | $96,628 |
| Sustainability Specialists | $81,004 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,576 |
With 392 different international business/trade/commerce programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased international business/trade/commerce school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
