Business Administration at Western Carolina University
Cullowhee, NC · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
60
Pessimistic
Earnings
$39,513/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk
High (47% exposed)
Job Market
Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI
28.2x earnings multiple (15.0x out-of-state)
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 | $512K | $510K | $475K |
| Earnings Multiple (In-State) | 28.2x | 28.2x | 26.2x |
| Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) | 15.0x | 15.0x | 13.9x |
| Probability of Field Employment | 47% | 43% | 32% |
| DegreeOutlook Score | 66 | 65 | 60 |
10-Year Earnings Projection
*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.
4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$18,128
Out-of-state: $34,128 (15.0x ROI)
Median Debt at Graduation
$21,836
6.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$50,856
29% growth from Year 1
About Western Carolina University
Western Carolina University has a 87% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving 9,867 students in Cullowhee, NC.
See all programs and financial aid at Western Carolina University →Top Career Paths
Chief executives
$206,420/yr
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200/yr
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740/yr
Compare & Explore
Business Administration at Other Schools
Other Majors at Western Carolina University
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
How does Western Carolina University's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 65/100, 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 are Business Administration earnings lower at Western Carolina University?
Lower starting pay at Western Carolina University may reflect local labor market conditions rather than program quality. Many graduates see convergence with national averages within 3-5 years.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research.
See full methodology →