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Business Administration at The University of Montana-Western

Dillon, MT · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $35,880/yr (-23% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 20.0x earnings multiple (6.8x out-of-state)

Ranked #630 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	$517K	$515K	$478K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	20.1x	20.0x	18.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	6.8x	6.8x	6.3x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	60	60	55

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$25,720

Out-of-state: $76,152 (6.8x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$66,676

-159% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,918

7.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$50,530

41% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

The University of Montana-Western's Business Administration graduates start at $35,880/yr, trailing the $46,892 national average by 23%. The program's value hinges on affordability.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 20.0x 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 7% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $20,918 represents roughly 7 months of the $35,880 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #630 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, The University of Montana-Western falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $35,880 to $50,530 over five years — a 41% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About The University of Montana-Western

A 100% acceptance rate means The University of Montana-Western is accessible to most applicants, with a smaller student body of 1,271 in Dillon, MT.

See all programs and financial aid at The University of Montana-Western →

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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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 The University of Montana-Western?

This program scores 60/100 — 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 $478,063 in decade earnings vs $516,674 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Can you still earn well with Business Administration from The University of Montana-Western?

First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.

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