Business/Commerce, General at Columbia College

Columbia, MO · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
54
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,329/yr (0% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 5.6x earnings multiple
Ranked #165 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business/Commerce, General graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $548K $544K $501K
Earnings Multiple 5.6x 5.6x 5.1x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 54

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$97,304
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,204
1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,187
5.8 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,526
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $48,329/yr, roughly in line with the $48,211 national median for Business/Commerce, General. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The earnings-to-cost ratio of 5.6x signals a solid financial return — projected decade earnings comfortably exceed the tuition investment.

Some AI exposure exists in Business/Commerce, General's typical career paths, with 46% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 9% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $48,329 far exceeding the $23,187 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #165 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs, Columbia College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Earnings grow from $48,329 to $58,526 over five years — a 21% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Columbia College

serving 5,359 students in Columbia, MO. 44% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating strong socioeconomic diversity.

See all programs and financial aid at Columbia College →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business/Commerce, General at Other Schools

Other Majors at Columbia 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/Commerce, General at Columbia College?
This program scores 59/100 — a respectable number in isolation, but it ranks in the bottom half of Business/Commerce, General programs nationally. The field is competitive, and stronger options exist.
Will AI replace Business/Commerce, General careers?
With 46% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $500,811 in decade earnings vs $548,221 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →