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Business · Business Administration Rank #483 of 1169

Business Administrationat Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Graduates earn $47,925/yr in their first year — about 2.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $829K; scenarios range from $708K to $859K depending on AI disruption.

Troy, NY Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
64 SOLID
64
Optimistic
58
Pessimistic
Earnings
$47,925
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.1x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$829K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at RPI

First-year earnings of $47,925 track close to the $46,892 national median for Business Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

At 3.4x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $25,000 against $47,925/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #483 ranking among 1,169 Business Administration programs places Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The $47,925-to-$100,765 earnings arc over five years reflects a 110% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

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
$708K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score58/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$829K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple3.4x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$859K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to RPI'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 RPI 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 RPI

Other top programs at RPI

Other highest-scoring programs offered at RPI, 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 RPI

What does a 64/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

At 64/100, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute'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 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute?

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.