Home › California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt › Business Administration

Business Administration at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Arcata, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
59
Pessimistic
Earnings $36,586/yr (-22% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 17.9x earnings multiple (7.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #498 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 50%

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 $573K $567K $516K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 18.1x 17.9x 16.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.2x 7.2x 6.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 59

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$31,652
Out-of-state: $79,172 (7.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$52,668
-66% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$15,448
5.1 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,979
61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $36,586 place California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt below the $46,892 national median for Business Administration — worth weighing against tuition and cost of living.

With a 17.9x return on in-state tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

With first-year pay of $36,586 far exceeding the $15,448 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #498 ranking among 1,169 Business Administration programs places California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

The $36,586-to-$58,979 earnings arc over five years reflects a 61% gain — well above average career growth for recent graduates.

About California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt accepts 99% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, serving 5,491 students in Arcata, CA. With 46% of students on Pell Grants, the campus draws from a broad economic spectrum.

See all programs and financial aid at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt →

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

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering ($55,589) Forestry ($52,810) Plant Sciences ($44,038) Computer Science ($37,153) Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics ($36,444) Political Science and Government ($36,079) Social Work ($35,693) Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies ($34,309)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
At 63/100, California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's Business Administration program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt a good choice for Business Administration despite lower starting pay?
Starting salary is one data point. If California State Polytechnic University-Humboldt's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →