Business at Ripon College

Ripon, WI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
44
Pessimistic
Earnings $43,757/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #227 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $558K $553K $508K
Earnings Multiple 2.8x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 44

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$202,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$84,704
58% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
7.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,893
35% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $43,757/yr, roughly in line with the $48,211 national median for Business. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 2.7x means the program roughly breaks even in financial terms over ten years. Non-financial factors need to justify the investment.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $27,000 debt-to-$43,757 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #227 out of 242 programs, Ripon College's financial outcomes for Business trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $43,757 to $58,893 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Ripon College

Ripon College accepts 84% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 720 students in Ripon, WI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $84,704 — 58% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Ripon College →

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

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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ripon College's Business program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Business. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
How vulnerable is Business to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business 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.
How affordable is Business at Ripon College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $202,800, but the average net cost is $84,704 — a 58% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →