Business Administration at DePaul University

Chicago, IL · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
59 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
59
Optimistic
59
Base Case
53
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,920/yr (4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #664 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 $621K $611K $548K
Earnings Multiple 3.5x 3.4x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 59 59 53

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$177,840
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$116,564
34% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,051
5.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$70,634
44% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $48,920/yr, Business Administration graduates from DePaul University land near the $46,892 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

The 3.4x 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 12% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $23,051 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

At #664 out of 1,169 programs, DePaul University's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $48,920 to $70,634 shows 44% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About DePaul University

With 74% of applicants admitted, DePaul University prioritizes broad access, enrolling 14,283 students in Chicago, IL. The average net cost of $116,564 over four years represents a 34% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at DePaul 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 DePaul University

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

How does DePaul University's Business Administration program score?
A score of 59/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but DePaul University trails the majority of Business Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →