Business Administration at Salem State University

Salem, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
68 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
69
Optimistic
68
Base Case
63
Pessimistic
Earnings $46,897/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 12.2x earnings multiple (7.7x out-of-state)
Ranked #312 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 $591K $583K $528K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.3x 12.2x 11.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.8x 7.7x 7.0x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 69 68 63

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,912
Out-of-state: $75,844 (7.7x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$73,764
-54% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,250
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$65,310
39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $46,897 track close to the $46,892 national median for Business Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 12.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $24,250 debt-to-$46,897 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #312 out of 1,169 programs, Salem State University's Business Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $46,897 to $65,310 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Salem State University

Salem State University has a 96% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, a compact campus enrolling 4,286 students in Salem, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Salem 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

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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 Salem State University's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 68/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Business Administration graduates.
How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →