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Business Administration at Central Washington University

Ellensburg, WA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

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

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,791/yr (6% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 15.8x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)

Ranked #148 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 25%

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	$589K	$581K	$527K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	16.0x	15.8x	14.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	5.5x	5.4x	4.9x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	73	73	67

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$36,768

Out-of-state: $107,084 (5.4x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$58,860

-60% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$18,500

4.5 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$65,927

32% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Central Washington University's Business Administration graduates start at $49,791/yr — above the $46,892 national average, though not by a wide margin.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 15.8x 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 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Loan repayment is a non-issue here — $18,500 in median debt clears quickly against $49,791 in annual earnings.

At #148 of 1,169 nationally, this is a top-5% Business Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $49,791 to $65,927 over five years — a 32% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Central Washington University

A 90% acceptance rate means Central Washington University is accessible to most applicants, enrolling 8,081 students in Ellensburg, WA.

See all programs and financial aid at Central Washington 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 Central Washington University

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Central Washington University?

This program scores 73/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, manageable AI risk, and solid financial return.

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 $526,616 in decade earnings vs $588,991 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Central Washington University's Business Administration program stand out?

Ranked #148 of 1,169 programs nationally, Central Washington University lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.

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