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Business Administration at Pepperdine University

Malibu, CA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
66 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
66
Optimistic
66
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $69,751/yr (49% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #375 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 50%

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 $715K $697K $611K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.6x 2.3x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 66 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$266,968
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$181,636
32% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
4.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,408
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Pepperdine University's Business Administration program earn $69,751/yr in their first year — 49% above the $46,892 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

At 2.6x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

The 15% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $27,000 in median debt against $69,751 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #375 ranking among 1,169 Business Administration programs places Pepperdine University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 31% earnings increase from $69,751 to $91,408 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Pepperdine University

With a 50% acceptance rate, Pepperdine University is moderately selective, with a smaller student body of 3,629 in Malibu, CA. After financial aid, the average student pays $181,636 over four years — 32% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Pepperdine University →

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

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at Pepperdine University

Economics ($54,267) Communication and Media Studies ($48,398) Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication ($45,988) Journalism ($42,536) Political Science and Government ($42,306) International/Global Studies ($36,920) Health and Physical Education/Fitness ($34,388) Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($33,228)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 66/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Pepperdine University?
At 66/100, Pepperdine University's Business Administration program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at Pepperdine University?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →