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Business Administration at University of California-Merced

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

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $46,378/yr (-1% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 9.9x earnings multiple (3.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #496 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 50%

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	$566K	$560K	$511K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	10.0x	9.9x	9.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	3.2x	3.1x	2.8x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	65	64	58

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$56,668

Out-of-state: $179,776 (3.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$50,976

10% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$16,000

4.1 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$61,387

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $46,378/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 9.9x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $46,378 far exceeding the $16,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #496 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, University of California-Merced scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $46,378 to $61,387 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of California-Merced

University of California-Merced accepts 39% of applicants — selective, though not ultra-competitive, with a mid-sized student body of 8,372 in Merced, CA. Pell Grant recipients make up 59% of the student body — a marker of economic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Merced →

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

Other Majors at University of California-Merced

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For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at University of California-Merced?

A score of 64/100 puts this program in competitive territory — solid outcomes, though not at the top of the Business Administration field.

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 $511,399 in decade earnings vs $566,325 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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