Business Administrationat University of Southern California
Graduates earn $71,668/yr in their first year — about 53.0% above the national Business Administration average. Base-case 10-year earnings $773K; scenarios range from $667K to $798K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at University of Southern California
Considering USC's Business Administration program means immersing yourself in an institution renowned for its robust alumni network and deep ties to the dynamic Los Angeles economy. Your education here extends beyond theory, directly connecting you with opportunities in tech, entertainment, finance, and consulting, offering unparalleled access to internships and full-time roles with leading global firms and innovative startups.
The program's broad curriculum in management and operations prepares you not just for entry-level positions, but for rapid advancement into strategic leadership roles. Graduates often enter fields like consulting, financial analysis, or project management, quickly leveraging their skills to manage teams and drive key initiatives. While some operational tasks may evolve with AI, your foundational understanding of business strategy and leadership development will position you to *manage* these changes, not be replaced by them. You'll navigate complex organizational challenges, making you invaluable. To maximize this potential, actively engage with the extensive career services and alumni mentorship programs to refine your specific career focus early on.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to University of Southern California's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Business Administration
How University of Southern California stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at University of Southern California
Other highest-scoring programs offered at University of Southern California, 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 →Frequently asked about Business Administration at University of Southern California
How does University of Southern California's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 69/100, 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.
Why does University of Southern California rank so high for Business Administration?
The #249 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
How affordable is Business Administration at University of Southern California after financial aid?
Sticker price is $272,948, but the average net cost is $127,708 — a 53% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.