Home Schools Ball State University Business Administration
Business · Business Administration Rank #36 of 1169

Business Administrationat Ball State University

Graduates earn $60,526/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $631K; scenarios range from $563K to $643K depending on AI disruption.

Muncie, IN Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
78 STRONG
78
Optimistic
72
Pessimistic
Earnings
$60,526
1-year post-graduation
ROI
17.0x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$631K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Ball State University

First-year earnings of $60,526 put Ball State University's Business Administration program 29% above the national median of $46,892 — one of the higher-earning programs in this field.

The 14.7x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

With first-year pay of $60,526 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #36 out of 1,169 programs, Ball State University's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $60,526 to $77,414 shows 28% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$563K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple13.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$631K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple14.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$643K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score78/100
Earnings Multiple14.9x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Ball State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Business Administration graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Chief executives
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 22,200 openings/yr
$206,420/yr
High
2
Computer and information systems managers
+15.2% 10-yr growth · 55,600 openings/yr
$171,200/yr
High
3
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
4
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
5
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
6
Compensation and benefits managers
+0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$140,360/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Business Administration

How Ball State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Manhattan College
NY · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$114K
1-yr earn
4.5x
ROI
Top score
Bismarck State College
ND · Public
89
DW Score
$101K
1-yr earn
61.8x
ROI
Maine Maritime Academy
ME · Public
73
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$96K
1-yr earn
5.2x
ROI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
86
DW Score
$94K
1-yr earn
19.4x
ROI
Also at Ball State University

Other top programs at Ball State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Ball State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Business Administration at Ball State University

How does Ball State University's Business Administration program score?

A score of 78/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Ball State University's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does Ball State University rank so high for Business Administration?

The #36 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.