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Business/Commerce, General at Lamar University

Beaumont, TX · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $37,280/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

ROI 15.1x earnings multiple (7.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #168 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Commerce, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$528K	$525K	$487K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	15.2x	15.1x	14.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	7.1x	7.1x	6.6x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	59	56

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$34,760

Out-of-state: $73,928 (7.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$45,716

-32% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$26,915

8.7 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$52,497

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $37,280 place Lamar University below the $48,211 national median for Business/Commerce, General — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business/Commerce, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business/Commerce, General's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,915 represents roughly 9 months of the $37,280 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #168 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs, Lamar University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $37,280 to $52,497 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Lamar University

Lamar University accepts 86% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, enrolling 7,945 students in Beaumont, TX. With 44% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at Lamar University →

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/Commerce, General at Other Schools

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business/Commerce, General at Lamar University?

This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business/Commerce, General programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

Will AI replace Business/Commerce, General careers?

With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $487,155 in decade earnings vs $528,227 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Business/Commerce, General from Lamar University?

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 →