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Business Administration at Western Colorado University

Gunnison, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $41,886/yr (-11% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (5.1x out-of-state)

Ranked #813 of 1,169 Business Administration programs

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	$487K	$487K	$458K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	11.0x	11.0x	10.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.1x	5.1x	4.8x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	56	55	50

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$44,332

Out-of-state: $94,732 (5.1x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$67,092

-51% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$22,470

6.4 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (4 Year)

$41,312

Small cohort — data may not reflect typical outcomes

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,886/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 11.0x 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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $22,470 represents roughly 6 months of the $41,886 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #813 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Western Colorado University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

About Western Colorado University

Western Colorado University accepts 97% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 1,653 students in Gunnison, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Colorado University →

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 Western Colorado University

Explore the Trade Alternative

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Western Colorado University?

This program scores 55/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business Administration programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.

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 $458,013 in decade earnings vs $486,811 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

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