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Business Administration at Columbia College

Columbia, SC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
52
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,514/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 6.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #727 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 $576K $569K $518K
Earnings Multiple 6.7x 6.6x 6.0x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 52

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$85,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$94,600
-10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,046
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,668
45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Columbia College's Business Administration program produces graduates earning $42,514/yr — within striking distance of the $46,892 national average for this field.

A 6.6x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,046 in median debt clears quickly against $42,514 in annual earnings.

A #727 ranking among 1,169 Business Administration programs places Columbia College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 45% earnings increase from $42,514 to $61,668 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Columbia College

A 96% acceptance rate means Columbia College is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,245 in Columbia, SC. Pell Grant recipients make up 53% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia 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

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at Columbia College

Homeland Security ($67,338) Criminal Justice and Corrections ($50,519) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($39,489)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 58/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Columbia College?
At 58/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business Administration is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at Columbia College?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →