Business Administration at Bridgewater College

Bridgewater, VA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
49
Optimistic
48
Base Case
43
Pessimistic
Earnings $40,434/yr (-14% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.3x earnings multiple
Ranked #1043 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 $554K $549K $503K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.3x 3.0x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 49 48 43

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$165,400
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$80,692
51% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,000
7.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$57,724
43% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $40,434/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 3.3x return on tuition is positive but not overwhelming. Financial outcomes depend on keeping costs close to in-state rates.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 9% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $26,000 debt-to-$40,434 income ratio translates to about 8 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #1043 out of 1,169 programs, Bridgewater College's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $40,434 to $57,724 shows 43% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About Bridgewater College

Bridgewater College accepts 91% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, with a smaller student body of 1,388 in Bridgewater, VA. Financial aid reduces the effective four-year cost to $80,692 — 51% less than the list price.

See all programs and financial aid at Bridgewater 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 Bridgewater College

Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Bridgewater College's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 48/100 — on the lower end for Business Administration. Prospective students should carefully weigh costs against likely earnings.
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.
How affordable is Business Administration at Bridgewater College after financial aid?
Sticker price is $165,400, but the average net cost is $80,692 — a 51% discount. For students who qualify for aid, this program is considerably more affordable than it appears.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →