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Business/Commerce, General at Northern Kentucky University

Highland Heights, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,654/yr (1% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

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

ROI 13.4x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #38 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs Top 25%

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	$591K	$583K	$530K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	13.6x	13.4x	12.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.9x	6.8x	6.2x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	70	66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,584

Out-of-state: $85,920 (6.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$28,672

34% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$27,750

6.8 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,218

34% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,654 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 13.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,750 debt-to-$48,654 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #38 out of 242 programs, Northern Kentucky University's Business/Commerce, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,654 to $65,218 shows 34% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Northern Kentucky University

Northern Kentucky University has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 8,065 students in Highland Heights, KY. The average net cost of $28,672 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Northern Kentucky 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

Other Majors at Northern Kentucky University

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

How does Northern Kentucky University's Business/Commerce, General program score?

A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Northern Kentucky University's Business/Commerce, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

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.

Why does Northern Kentucky University rank so high for Business/Commerce, General?

The #38 ranking out of 242 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →