Business Administration at Catawba College

Salisbury, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
58
Optimistic
58
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,068/yr (-2% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 4.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #717 of 1,169 Business Administration programs

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 $587K $579K $525K
Earnings Multiple 4.4x 4.3x 3.9x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 58 58 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$133,600
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$72,840
45% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
6.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,539
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Catawba College's Business Administration program produces graduates earning $46,068/yr — within striking distance of the $46,892 national average for this field.

The 4.3x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$46,068 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #717 out of 1,169 programs, Catawba College's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $46,068 to $64,539 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Catawba College

A 78% acceptance rate means Catawba College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,127 in Salisbury, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $72,840 over four years — 45% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Catawba College →

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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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Catawba College's Business Administration program score?
A score of 58/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Catawba College trails the majority of Business Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →