Home Schools Sam Houston State University Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations
Business · Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Rank #63 of 67

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operationsat Sam Houston State University

Graduates earn $23,682/yr in their first year — about 47.0% below the national Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations average. Base-case 10-year earnings $394K; scenarios range from $391K to $384K depending on AI disruption.

Huntsville, TX Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
36 AT RISK
37
Optimistic
35
Pessimistic
Earnings
$23,682
1-year post-graduation
ROI
5.4x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$394K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
53% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Sam Houston State University

This program's outcomes reflect the challenging realities of launching or operating small businesses, especially in a regional market like Huntsville. Many graduates find themselves either starting ventures with highly variable initial income or taking generalist roles in local small businesses where salary growth can be limited. The "entrepreneurial" focus means your earnings depend heavily on your venture's success, which often takes years to stabilize, if it does at all. The listed management roles are often aspirational; entry-level positions in this field rarely command high salaries, and advancement requires significant experience and a robust local economy. Furthermore, many operational tasks are increasingly susceptible to AI automation, adding pressure to these roles. To succeed, you'll need to aggressively network, build practical skills beyond the curriculum, and develop a strong, validated business plan before relying on your degree for immediate financial returns.

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
$391K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score35/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$394K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score36/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$384K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score37/100
Earnings Multiple10.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Sam Houston State University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations 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
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
3
General and operations managers
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 308,700 openings/yr
$102,950/yr
Moderate
4
Business teachers, postsecondary
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 8,100 openings/yr
$97,270/yr
Moderate
5
Personal service managers, all other
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 2,100 openings/yr
$61,340/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 Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

How Sam Houston State University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Boston College
MA · Private nonprofit
56
DW Score
$74K
1-yr earn
1.7x
ROI
Brown University
RI · Private nonprofit
69
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
3.3x
ROI
University of Washington-Seattle Campus
WA · Public
64
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
11.9x
ROI
Same state (TX)
Texas Christian University
TX · Private nonprofit
55
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
1.8x
ROI
University of Arizona
AZ · Public
76
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
14.5x
ROI
Also at Sam Houston State University

Other top programs at Sam Houston State University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Sam Houston State University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Sam Houston State University

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Sam Houston State University?

A score of 36/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Is Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations at Sam Houston State University worth the student debt?

Median debt of $26,000 against $23,682/yr starting salary means roughly 1.1 years of earnings go to repayment. That's above average — financial aid and loan terms matter here.

Will AI replace Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations careers?

With 50% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $391,085 in decade earnings vs $383,549 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations from Sam Houston State University?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.