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Business · Business Administration Rank #239 of 1169

Business Administrationat Southern Methodist University

Graduates earn $60,659/yr in their first year — about 29.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $891K; scenarios range from $753K to $927K depending on AI disruption.

Dallas, TX Private nonprofit Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
70 STRONG
70
Optimistic
64
Pessimistic
Earnings
$60,659
1-year post-graduation
ROI
3.5x
Earnings : tuition
10-yr Base
$891K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Southern Methodist University

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.

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
$753K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score64/100
Earnings Multiple2.9x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$891K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple3.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$927K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple3.6x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Business Administration 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
Computer and information systems managers
+15.2% 10-yr growth · 55,600 openings/yr
$171,200/yr
High
3
Architectural and engineering managers
+3.8% 10-yr growth · 14,500 openings/yr
$167,740/yr
Moderate
4
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
5
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
6
Compensation and benefits managers
+0.2% 10-yr growth · 1,500 openings/yr
$140,360/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 Business Administration

How Southern Methodist University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Manhattan College
NY · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$114K
1-yr earn
4.5x
ROI
Top score
Bismarck State College
ND · Public
89
DW Score
$101K
1-yr earn
61.8x
ROI
Maine Maritime Academy
ME · Public
73
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
15.7x
ROI
Carnegie Mellon University
PA · Private nonprofit
77
DW Score
$96K
1-yr earn
5.2x
ROI
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
MI · Public
86
DW Score
$94K
1-yr earn
19.4x
ROI
Also at Southern Methodist University

Other top programs at Southern Methodist University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Southern Methodist University, 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 →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Business Administration at Southern Methodist University

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.