Business/Commerce, General at Nichols College

Dudley, MA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
56 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
56
Optimistic
56
Base Case
51
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,801/yr (-7% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #193 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 $602K $593K $538K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.3x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 56 56 51

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$161,500
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$124,260
23% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,000
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,586
46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $44,801 track close to the $48,211 national median for Business/Commerce, General programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 3.7x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $19,000 in median debt against $44,801 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

At #193 out of 242 programs, Nichols College's financial outcomes for Business/Commerce, General trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,801 to $65,586 shows 46% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Nichols College

Nichols College has a 88% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a smaller institution with 1,152 students in Dudley, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Nichols 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

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Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Nichols College's Business/Commerce, General program score?
A score of 56/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Nichols College trails the majority of Business/Commerce, General programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business/Commerce, General to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business/Commerce, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% 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 →