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Business · Business Administration Rank #445 of 1169

Business Administrationat Northern State University

Graduates earn $43,667/yr in their first year — about 7.0% below the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $522K; scenarios range from $483K to $525K depending on AI disruption.

Aberdeen, SD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
65
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$43,667
1-year post-graduation
ROI
14.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$522K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Northern State University

Graduates earn $43,667/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.8x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's typical career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $23,000 represents roughly 6 months of the $43,667 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #445 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Northern State University scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $43,667 to $53,939 over five years — a 24% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$483K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple13.7x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$522K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple14.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$525K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple14.8x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Northern State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Business Administration graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Chief executives
+4.3% 10-yr growth · 22,200 openings/yr
$206,420/yr
High
2
Computer and information systems managers
+15.2% 10-yr growth · 55,600 openings/yr
$171,200/yr
High
3
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
4
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
5
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
6
Compensation and benefits managers
+0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$140,360/yr
High
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Business Administration

How Northern State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Manhattan College
NY · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$114K
1-yr earn
4.5x
ROI
Top score
Bismarck State College
ND · Public
89
DW Score
$101K
1-yr earn
61.8x
ROI
Maine Maritime Academy
ME · Public
73
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$96K
1-yr earn
5.2x
ROI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
86
DW Score
$94K
1-yr earn
19.4x
ROI
Also at Northern State University

Other top programs at Northern State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Northern State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Business Administration at Northern State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Northern State University?

A score of 65/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business Administration field.

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 $483,364 in decade earnings vs $524,572 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.