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Business · Finance Rank #237 of 431

Financeat University of Central Arkansas

Graduates earn $44,343/yr in their first year — about 20.0% below the national Finance average. Base-case 10-year earnings $630K; scenarios range from $568K to $649K depending on AI disruption.

Conway, AR Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
71 STRONG
72
Optimistic
70
Pessimistic
Earnings
$44,343
1-year post-graduation
ROI
15.2x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$630K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
59% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Central Arkansas

First-year earnings of $44,343 place University of Central Arkansas below the $55,340 national median for Finance — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 15.6x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 13% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Finance career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $44,343 far exceeding the $16,896 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #237 ranking among 431 Finance programs places University of Central Arkansas in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 48% earnings increase from $44,343 to $65,685 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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
$568K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple14.0x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$630K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score71/100
Earnings Multiple15.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$649K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score72/100
Earnings Multiple16.0x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

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

Career Paths

Where Finance 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
Financial managers
+14.8% 10-yr growth · 74,600 openings/yr
$161,700/yr
High
3
Financial risk specialists
+6.5% 10-yr growth · 4,800 openings/yr
$106,000/yr
High
4
General and operations managers
+4.4% 10-yr growth · 308,700 openings/yr
$102,950/yr
Moderate
5
Personal financial advisors
+9.6% 10-yr growth · 24,100 openings/yr
$102,140/yr
High
6
Financial and investment analysts
+5.7% 10-yr growth · 25,100 openings/yr
$101,350/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Finance

How University of Central Arkansas stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
82
DW Score
$123K
1-yr earn
8.2x
ROI
Georgetown University
DC · Private nonprofit
80
DW Score
$106K
1-yr earn
4.9x
ROI
Washington University in St Louis
MO · Private nonprofit
81
DW Score
$103K
1-yr earn
6.6x
ROI
University of Notre Dame
IN · Private nonprofit
79
DW Score
$99K
1-yr earn
4.5x
ROI
Wake Forest University
NC · Private nonprofit
78
DW Score
$86K
1-yr earn
4.4x
ROI
Also at University of Central Arkansas

Other top programs at University of Central Arkansas

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Central Arkansas, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Finance offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Finance trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Finance at University of Central Arkansas

What does a 71/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Finance at University of Central Arkansas?

At 71/100, the score looks reasonable — but Finance is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Finance at University of Central Arkansas?

The 55% 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 University of Central Arkansas a good choice for Finance despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If University of Central Arkansas's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.