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Business/Commerce, General at University of Kentucky

Lexington, KY · Public · Bachelor's Degree

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,431/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (46% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)

ROI 11.4x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #37 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs Top 25%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Commerce, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$614K	$603K	$545K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.6x	11.4x	10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.6x	4.5x	4.1x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	34%
DegreeOutlook Score	70	70	65

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$52,848

Out-of-state: $133,624 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$68,872

-30% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,500

5.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$68,803

39% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $49,431/yr, Business/Commerce, General graduates from University of Kentucky land near the $48,211 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 11.4x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,500 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #37 out of 242 programs, University of Kentucky's Business/Commerce, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $49,431 to $68,803 shows 39% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Kentucky

With 92% of applicants admitted, University of Kentucky prioritizes broad access, with 23,189 students enrolled in Lexington, KY.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Kentucky →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr

Sales managers $138,060/yr

Managers, all other $136,550/yr

View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Kentucky's Business/Commerce, General program score?

A score of 70/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Kentucky's Business/Commerce, General graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.

How vulnerable is Business/Commerce, General to AI automation?

AI won't 'replace' Business/Commerce, General careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.

Why does University of Kentucky rank so high for Business/Commerce, General?

The #37 ranking out of 242 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.

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