Business at Columbia College

Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,329/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 5.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #165 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 graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $548K $544K $501K
Earnings Multiple 5.6x 5.6x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$97,304
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,204
1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,187
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,526
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,329/yr, roughly in line with the $48,211 national median for Business. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Business's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $48,329 far exceeding the $23,187 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #165 of 242 Business programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $48,329 to $58,526 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Columbia College

serving 5,359 students in Columbia, MO. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

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

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at Columbia College

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business at Columbia College?
This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,811 in decade earnings vs $548,221 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →