Business Administration at Lees-McRae College
Banner Elk, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
51
Optimistic
51
Base Case
47
Pessimistic
Earnings
$33,292/yr (-29% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI
5.2x earnings multiple
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 | $667K | $653K | $579K |
| Earnings Multiple | 5.4x | 5.2x | 4.6x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 47% | 43% | 32% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 51 | 51 | 47 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$124,560
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,605
6.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$68,923
107% growth from Year 1
About Lees-McRae College
Lees-McRae College accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 817 in Banner Elk, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at Lees-McRae College →Top Career Paths
Chief executives
$206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740/yr
Compare & Explore
Business Administration at Other Schools
Other Majors at Lees-McRae 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 Administration at Lees-McRae College?
This program scores 51/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
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 $579,000 in decade earnings vs $667,011 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Business Administration from Lees-McRae 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 →