Business Administration at Gardner-Webb University

Boiling Springs, NC · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
48 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
48
Optimistic
48
Base Case
42
Pessimistic
Earnings $42,840/yr (-9% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 3.7x earnings multiple
Ranked #1036 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 $495K $495K $464K
Earnings Multiple 3.7x 3.7x 3.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 48 48 42

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$133,800
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$96,548
28% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$26,980
7.6 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,758
14% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,840/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

An earnings multiple of 3.7x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

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 6% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $26,980 represents roughly 8 months of the $42,840 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #1036 of 1,169 Business Administration programs, Gardner-Webb University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $48,758 are relatively flat compared to the $42,840 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Gardner-Webb University

Gardner-Webb University accepts 87% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 1,836 students in Boiling Springs, NC.

See all programs and financial aid at Gardner-Webb 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

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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 Administration at Gardner-Webb University?
A score of 48/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Business Administration. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
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 $463,555 in decade earnings vs $495,065 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →