Business Administration at North Central College

Naperville, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
54 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
55
Optimistic
54
Base Case
48
Pessimistic
Earnings $44,934/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #845 of 1,169 Business Administration programs

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 $593K $585K $529K
Earnings Multiple 3.3x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 55 54 48

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,576
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$92,132
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,500
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,055
45% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

North Central College's Business Administration program produces graduates earning $44,934/yr — within striking distance of the $46,892 national average for this field.

The 3.3x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $21,500 in median debt clears quickly against $44,934 in annual earnings.

At #845 out of 1,169 programs, North Central College's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $44,934 to $65,055 shows 45% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About North Central College

North Central College's 58% acceptance rate reflects moderate selectivity, with a smaller student body of 2,360 in Naperville, IL. The average net cost of $92,132 over four years represents a 48% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at North Central College →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers $171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740/yr
View all 42 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at North Central College

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 North Central College's Business Administration program score?
A score of 54/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but North Central College trails the majority of Business Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% 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 →