Business at Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
58 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
59
Optimistic
58
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $33,376/yr (-31% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 15.3x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)
Ranked #170 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

Program Analysis

Fort Lewis College's Business program provides a broad foundation, but its location in Durango significantly shapes post-graduation outcomes. Unlike programs in major metropolitan areas with robust corporate recruiting pipelines, you'll find a more regional job market here, often centered around tourism, outdoor recreation, small businesses, and local government. This means your early career opportunities might lean towards entry-level management, sales, or operational roles within these sectors, which, while valuable, may not command the same initial compensation as jobs in larger financial or tech hubs. The program likely prepares you well for contributing to the local economy, but if your ambition is high-tier corporate salaries, you'll need to actively seek opportunities outside the immediate region or pursue specialized internships. Consider how your career aspirations align with the local economy and be prepared to leverage your general business skills in a diverse range of smaller organizations.

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 $601K $592K $537K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 15.5x 15.3x 13.9x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.1x 6.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 58 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,680
Out-of-state: $83,192 (7.1x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$69,356
-79% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,674
7.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$60,396
81% growth from Year 1

About Fort Lewis College

A 93% acceptance rate means Fort Lewis College is accessible to most applicants, a smaller institution with 3,070 students in Durango, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis 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 Fort Lewis College?
This program scores 58/100 — 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 $536,530 in decade earnings vs $600,513 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Business from Fort Lewis College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →