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Business Administration at Simpson College

Indianola, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $56,812/yr (21% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 3.1x earnings multiple

Ranked #669 of 1,169 Business Administration programs

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	$584K	$577K	$523K
Earnings Multiple	3.2x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	59	59	53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$184,848

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$88,924

52% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$66,834

18% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $56,812 at Simpson College come in 21% above the national median of $46,892 for Business Administration programs.

An earnings multiple of 3.1x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $56,812 far exceeding the $21,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #669 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Simpson College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $66,834 are relatively flat compared to the $56,812 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Simpson College

Simpson College accepts 89% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,130 in Indianola, IA. The average net cost of $88,924 over four years represents a 52% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Simpson College →

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 Simpson College

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Simpson College?

This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $523,426 in decade earnings vs $584,240 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Is Simpson College a hidden gem for Business Administration?

After financial aid, the average student pays $88,924 over four years — 52% below the $184,848 sticker price. That gap makes the ROI significantly better than published tuition suggests.

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