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Business · Business Administration Rank #418 of 1169

Business Administrationat University of Illinois Chicago

Graduates earn $65,781/yr in their first year — about 40.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $606K; scenarios range from $545K to $616K depending on AI disruption.

Chicago, IL Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
65
Optimistic
59
Pessimistic
Earnings
$65,781
1-year post-graduation
ROI
10.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$606K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at University of Illinois Chicago

The strong financial outcomes for UIC's Business Administration program reflect its strategic positioning within a dynamic major metropolitan economy. Chicago offers an unparalleled density of corporate headquarters, startups, and consulting firms across diverse sectors from finance and technology to logistics and manufacturing. This environment creates numerous opportunities for graduates with practical management and operations skills, allowing them to step into roles with significant responsibility and upward mobility quickly. The university's urban location fosters robust recruiting pipelines, connecting students directly with employers seeking talent for roles like project management, operational efficiency, and team leadership. Many graduates find themselves in competitive management tracks within these industries, driving the strong compensation figures. To truly maximize this advantage, actively pursue internships and cultivate strong professional networks throughout your studies; these connections are invaluable for accessing the most lucrative opportunities.

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
$545K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score59/100
Earnings Multiple9.5x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$606K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple10.6x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$616K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple10.7x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Illinois Chicago'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 University of Illinois Chicago 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 University of Illinois Chicago

Other top programs at University of Illinois Chicago

Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Illinois Chicago, 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 University of Illinois Chicago

How does University of Illinois Chicago's Business Administration program score?

This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Business Administration graduates.

How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.