Business at Ashland University

Ashland, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $50,262/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 4.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #178 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $539K $535K $495K
Earnings Multiple 4.7x 4.6x 4.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 58 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$115,640
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$87,976
24% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,500
5.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,458
14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Ashland University's Business program produces graduates earning $50,262/yr — within striking distance of the $48,211 national average for this field.

An earnings multiple of 4.6x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Business's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $23,500 in median debt clears quickly against $50,262 in annual earnings.

Ranked #178 of 242 Business programs, Ashland University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $57,458 are relatively flat compared to the $50,262 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Ashland University

A 81% acceptance rate means Ashland University is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 2,250 in Ashland, OH.

See all programs and financial aid at Ashland University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business at Ashland University?
This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $494,693 in decade earnings vs $539,263 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →