Business Administrationat Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Graduates earn $55,633/yr in their first year — about 19.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $574K; scenarios range from $521K to $581K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
First-year earnings of $55,633 at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale come in 19% above the national median of $46,892 for Business Administration programs.
The 10.8x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.
With first-year pay of $55,633 far exceeding the $25,712 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.
Ranked #196 out of 1,169 programs, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.
Earnings growth is modest: $55,633 to $66,066 over five years (19% gain). This field may have a lower salary ceiling than high-growth professions.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Business Administration
How Southern Illinois University-Carbondale stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Consider the trade route
Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Business Administration offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.
Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →Frequently asked about Business Administration at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
How does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Business Administration program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does Southern Illinois University-Carbondale rank so high for Business Administration?
The #196 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.