Business Administration at Alma College

Alma, MI · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
43 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
44
Optimistic
43
Base Case
38
Pessimistic
Earnings $39,300/yr (-16% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 2.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #1120 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 $520K $518K $480K
Earnings Multiple 2.7x 2.7x 2.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 44 43 38

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$189,720
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$98,652
48% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$27,000
8.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,089
33% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $39,300 per year, Business Administration graduates from Alma College earn below the $46,892 national average. Lower costs or geographic factors may offset the earnings gap.

The financial case is thin at 2.7x — decade earnings barely exceed the cost of attendance. The value proposition here is driven by factors beyond pure ROI.

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 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $27,000 represents roughly 8 months of the $39,300 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #1120 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Alma College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $39,300 to $52,089 over five years — a 33% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Alma College

Alma College accepts 66% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with a smaller student body of 1,208 in Alma, MI. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $98,652 — 48% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Alma College →

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 Alma College

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 Alma College?
A score of 43/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Business Administration. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $480,340 in decade earnings vs $520,066 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can you still earn well with Business Administration from Alma College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →