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Business/Commerce, General at Wake Forest University

Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
71 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
71
Optimistic
71
Base Case
67
Pessimistic
Earnings $76,722/yr (59% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.1x earnings multiple
Ranked #34 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 $818K $791K $685K
Earnings Multiple 3.2x 3.1x 2.6x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 71 71 67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$259,032
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$114,984
56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$18,899
3.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$107,296
40% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Wake Forest University Business/Commerce, General graduates command $76,722/yr out of the gate, well above the $48,211 national median. That 59% premium suggests the program's reputation carries real labor-market weight.

The 3.1x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 46% task exposure — and the 16% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,899 in median debt clears quickly against $76,722 in annual earnings.

Ranked #34 out of 242 programs, Wake Forest University's Business/Commerce, General program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $76,722 to $107,296 shows 40% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Wake Forest University

Admission to Wake Forest University is competitive, with 22% of applicants accepted, with a mid-sized student body of 5,471 in Winston-Salem, NC. After financial aid, the average student pays $114,984 over four years — 56% below sticker price.

See all programs and financial aid at Wake Forest University →

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

Compare this program → View all 242 schools offering Business/Commerce, General →

Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools

The University of Texas at Austin ($94,041) New York University ($77,828) Baylor University ($74,886) Northeastern University ($74,868) University of Notre Dame ($73,170) University of Redlands ($72,664) Indiana University-Bloomington ($71,100) Regis University ($66,739)

Other Majors at Wake Forest University

Finance and Financial Management Services ($85,944) Computer Science ($75,625) Economics ($56,416) Political Science and Government ($47,161) Sociology ($46,257) Communication and Media Studies ($42,055) Psychology, General ($34,823) English Language and Literature, General ($31,449)

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

Compare Business/Commerce, General trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Wake Forest University's Business/Commerce, General program score?
A score of 71/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Wake Forest University'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 Wake Forest University rank so high for Business/Commerce, General?
The #34 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.
How affordable is Business/Commerce, General at Wake Forest University after financial aid?
Sticker price is $259,032, but the average net cost is $114,984 — a 56% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →