Business Administration at American Public University System

Charles Town, WV · Private for-profit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
79 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
80
Optimistic
79
Base Case
73
Pessimistic
Earnings $61,687/yr (32% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 18.2x earnings multiple
Ranked #32 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 5%

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 $621K $610K $548K
Earnings Multiple 18.5x 18.2x 16.3x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 80 79 73

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$33,600
Median Debt at Graduation
$22,988
4.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$74,073
20% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $61,687 per year, Business Administration graduates from American Public University System significantly outpace the $46,892 national average for this major, reflecting strong employer demand for this program's graduates.

The 18.2x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $22,988 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #32 out of 1,169 programs, American Public University System's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $61,687 to $74,073 shows 20% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About American Public University System

serving a student body of 38,976 in Charles Town, WV.

See all programs and financial aid at American Public University System →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does American Public University System's Business Administration program score?
A score of 79/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. American Public University System's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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 does American Public University System rank so high for Business Administration?
The #32 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →