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Business Administration at Southwest Minnesota State University

Marshall, MN · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $49,245/yr (5% vs median)

AI Risk High (47% exposed)

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

ROI 13.7x earnings multiple

Ranked #225 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	$570K	$564K	$514K
Earnings Multiple	13.8x	13.7x	12.5x
Probability of Field Employment	47%	43%	32%
DegreeOutlook Score	71	70	64

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)

$41,216

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$59,040

-43% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$20,500

5.0 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$62,733

27% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $49,245 at Southwest Minnesota State University come in 5% above the national median of $46,892 for Business Administration programs.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 13.7x 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 10% gap from the optimistic case.

With first-year pay of $49,245 far exceeding the $20,500 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

At #225 of 1,169 nationally, this is a top-5% Business Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Earnings grow from $49,245 to $62,733 over five years — a 27% increase that's moderate and in line with typical career progression.

About Southwest Minnesota State University

A 69% admission rate makes Southwest Minnesota State University accessible to a wide range of qualified students, a compact campus enrolling 2,045 students in Marshall, MN.

See all programs and financial aid at Southwest Minnesota State 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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Is a Trade Program a Better Fit?

For students who prefer applied learning, trade programs can deliver strong earnings with significantly less debt and shorter time to employment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Business Administration at Southwest Minnesota State University?

This program scores 70/100 — 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 $513,836 in decade earnings vs $569,954 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

What makes Southwest Minnesota State University's Business Administration program stand out?

Ranked #225 of 1,169 programs nationally, Southwest Minnesota State 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 →