Business Administration at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

San Luis Obispo, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
84 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
84
Optimistic
84
Base Case
79
Pessimistic
Earnings $71,876/yr (53% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.1x earnings multiple (6.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #6 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 1%

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $783K $759K $657K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.7x 17.1x 14.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.3x 6.1x 5.3x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 84 84 79

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$44,300
Out-of-state: $123,980 (6.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$62,496
-41% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$16,633
2.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$102,603
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $71,876 per year, Business Administration graduates from California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo significantly outpace the $46,892 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 17.1x 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 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $16,633 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

A #6 ranking out of 1,169 programs puts California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in the top 1% for Business Administration. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $71,876 to $102,603 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

A 30% acceptance rate puts California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo in competitive admissions territory, serving a student body of 21,521 in San Luis Obispo, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
View all 42 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration at Other Schools

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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

How does California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo's Business Administration program score?
A score of 84/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo'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 California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo rank so high for Business Administration?
The #6 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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →