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Business Administration at University of Southern Maine

Portland, ME · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $48,421/yr (3% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 12.5x earnings multiple (5.0x out-of-state)

Ranked #341 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	$550K	$545K	$500K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.6x	12.5x	11.5x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.0x	4.6x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	68	67	61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$43,680

Out-of-state: $108,416 (5.0x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$46,916

-7% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,625

4.6 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$59,240

22% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,421/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.5x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

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 9% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $48,421 far exceeding the $18,625 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #341 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, University of Southern Maine scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Earnings grow from $48,421 to $59,240 over five years — a 22% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About University of Southern Maine

University of Southern Maine accepts 79% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 4,245 students in Portland, ME.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Southern Maine →

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 Southern Maine

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at University of Southern Maine?

A score of 67/100 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 $500,373 in decade earnings vs $549,903 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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