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Business · Business Administration Rank #148 of 1169

Business Administrationat Central Washington University

Graduates earn $49,791/yr in their first year — about 6.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $581K; scenarios range from $527K to $589K depending on AI disruption.

Ellensburg, WA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
73 STRONG
73
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$49,791
1-year post-graduation
ROI
16.9x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$581K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Central Washington University

Central Washington University's Business Administration graduates start at $49,791/yr — above the $46,892 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,500 in median debt clears quickly against $49,791 in annual earnings.

At #148 of 1,169 nationally, this is a top-5% Business Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $49,791 to $65,927 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career 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
$527K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple14.3x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$581K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple15.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$589K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score73/100
Earnings Multiple16.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Central Washington 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 Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

Other top programs at Central Washington University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Central Washington University?

This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

Will AI replace Business Administration careers?

With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $526,616 in decade earnings vs $588,991 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Central Washington University's Business Administration program stand out?

Ranked #148 of 1,169 programs nationally, Central Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.