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Business Administration at Southern Methodist University

Dallas, TX · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
70 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
70
Optimistic
70
Base Case
64
Pessimistic
Earnings $60,659/yr (29% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.5x earnings multiple
Ranked #239 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 25%

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 $927K $891K $753K
Earnings Multiple 3.6x 3.5x 2.9x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 70 70 64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$257,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$167,112
35% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$19,500
3.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$116,818
93% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of Southern Methodist University's Business Administration program earn $60,659/yr in their first year — 29% above the $46,892 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

At 3.5x tuition cost in decade earnings, the ROI is moderate. This program pays for itself, but it's not a financial slam-dunk.

The 19% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $19,500 in median debt against $60,659 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Southern Methodist University ranks #239 among 1,169 Business Administration programs, placing it in the top 5% nationally by our financial outcomes measure.

The $60,659-to-$116,818 earnings arc over five years reflects a 93% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About Southern Methodist University

With a 61% acceptance rate, Southern Methodist University is moderately selective, serving 7,106 students in Dallas, TX. The average net cost of $167,112 over four years represents a 35% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Southern Methodist 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

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at Southern Methodist University

Computer Science ($93,679) Finance and Financial Management Services ($83,159) Mechanical Engineering ($79,280) Statistics ($76,759) Mathematics ($74,516) Operations Research ($72,658) Economics ($71,630) Accounting and Related Services ($68,643)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 70/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Southern Methodist University?
At 70/100, this is a high-performing program. The DegreeOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at Southern Methodist University?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Southern Methodist University one of the best schools for Business Administration?
Among 1,169 Business Administration programs, Southern Methodist University's #239 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →