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Business Administration at Sonoma State University

Rohnert Park, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $55,001/yr (17% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 20.1x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)

Ranked #23 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 5%

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	$672K	$657K	$582K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.5x	20.1x	17.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	8.4x	8.2x	7.2x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	79	79	73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$32,760

Out-of-state: $80,280 (8.2x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$55,204

-69% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,500

3.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$80,187

46% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $55,001 at Sonoma State University come in 17% above the national median of $46,892 for Business Administration programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.1x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

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 13% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $55,001 far exceeding the $16,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #23 of 1,169 nationally, this is a top-5% Business Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $55,001 to $80,187 over five years — a 46% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Sonoma State University

Sonoma State University accepts 95% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,374 students in Rohnert Park, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at Sonoma 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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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Sonoma State University?

This program scores 79/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $582,027 in decade earnings vs $671,516 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Sonoma State University's Business Administration program stand out?

Ranked #23 of 1,169 programs nationally, Sonoma State University lands in the top 5%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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