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Business at Wartburg College

Waverly, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
60
Optimistic
59
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $54,652/yr (13% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 3.0x earnings multiple
Ranked #163 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

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

Optimistic
No Disruption		 Base Case
Gradual AI		 Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $622K $612K $551K
Earnings Multiple 3.0x 3.0x 2.7x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 60 59 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$204,160
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$90,416
56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
5.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$71,653
31% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $54,652 at Wartburg College come in 13% above the national median of $48,211 for Business programs.

At 3.0x tuition cost, the financial math is tight. Decade earnings don't dramatically exceed what you paid, making school choice and aid packages critical.

The 11% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $54,652 far exceeding the $27,000 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #163 ranking among 242 Business programs places Wartburg College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 31% earnings increase from $54,652 to $71,653 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Wartburg College

Wartburg College accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,446 students in Waverly, IA. The average net cost of $90,416 over four years represents a 56% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Wartburg College →

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 →

Business at Other Schools

The University of Texas at Austin ($94,041) New York University ($77,828) Wake Forest University ($76,722) Baylor University ($74,886) Northeastern University ($74,868) University of Notre Dame ($73,170) University of Redlands ($72,664) Indiana University-Bloomington ($71,100)

Other Majors at Wartburg College

Accounting and Related Services ($61,529) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas ($45,677) Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods ($44,999) Communication and Media Studies ($40,255) Biology, General ($34,398)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 59/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business at Wartburg College?
At 59/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business at Wartburg College?
The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
What do students actually pay for Business at Wartburg College?
The 56% gap between sticker price and net cost means most students pay far less than $204,160. At a net cost of $90,416, the earnings multiple improves substantially.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →