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Business Administration at Portland State University

Portland, OR · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $51,358/yr (10% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

ROI 14.3x earnings multiple (5.3x out-of-state)

Ranked #108 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 10%

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	$654K	$641K	$571K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	14.6x	14.3x	12.7x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.4x	5.3x	4.7x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	75	75	69

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,952

Out-of-state: $120,552 (5.3x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$51,728

-15% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$19,901

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$76,365

49% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $51,358 per year, Business Administration graduates from Portland State University earn slightly above the $46,892 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 14.3x 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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

The median debt load of $19,901 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #108 of 1,169 programs, Portland State University's Business Administration program falls in the top 10%, outperforming most peers on financial outcomes.

Earnings grow from $51,358 to $76,365 over five years — a 49% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Portland State University

With 91% of applicants admitted, Portland State University prioritizes broad access, serving 13,619 students in Portland, OR.

See all programs and financial aid at Portland State 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

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Portland State 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

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

This program scores 75/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $570,534 in decade earnings vs $654,400 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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