Business/Commerce, General at Ashland University

Ashland, OH · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General 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/Commerce, General'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/Commerce, General 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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business/Commerce, General at Ashland University?
This program scores 58/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business/Commerce, General programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business/Commerce, General 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 →