Business Administration at Ferris State University

Big Rapids, MI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
67 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
68
Optimistic
67
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,535/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 10.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #343 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 50%

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 $584K $577K $523K
Earnings Multiple 10.7x 10.6x 9.6x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 68 67 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$54,520
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$48,808
10% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,799
4.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$64,813
34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $48,535/yr, Business Administration graduates from Ferris State University land near the $46,892 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 10.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $19,799 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #343 out of 1,169 programs, Ferris State University's Business Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,535 to $64,813 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ferris State University

With 81% of applicants admitted, Ferris State University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 8,087 students in Big Rapids, MI.

See all programs and financial aid at Ferris State 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 Ferris State University

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

How does Ferris State University's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 67/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Business Administration graduates.
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 →