Business Administration at Elmhurst University

Elmhurst, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
60 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
61
Optimistic
60
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $49,771/yr (6% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #614 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 $623K $612K $549K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 61 60 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$166,512
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,252
49% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,103
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $49,771/yr, edging above the $46,892 national average for Business Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 3.7x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,000 in median debt against $49,771 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #614 out of 1,169 programs, Elmhurst University's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $49,771 to $71,103 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Elmhurst University

Elmhurst University has a 76% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 2,954 students in Elmhurst, IL. The average net cost of $84,252 over four years represents a 49% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Elmhurst University →

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

Other Majors at Elmhurst University

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 Elmhurst University's Business Administration program score?
A score of 60/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Elmhurst University 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 →