Business Administrationat Illinois State University
Graduates earn $50,647/yr in their first year — about 8.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $606K; scenarios range from $545K to $616K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Illinois State University
Illinois State University's Business Administration graduates start at $50,647/yr — above the $46,892 national average, though not by a wide margin.
The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.5x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.
Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 12% gap from the optimistic case.
Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $15,000 in median debt clears quickly against $50,647 in annual earnings.
At #306 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Illinois State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.
Earnings grow from $50,647 to $70,456 over five years — a 39% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.
Three scenarios, ten years out
Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Illinois State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.
Peer schools offering Business Administration
How Illinois State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Illinois State University
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Illinois State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Business Administration at Illinois State University
What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Illinois State University?
A score of 68/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business Administration field.
Will AI replace Business Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $545,073 in decade earnings vs $616,479 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.