Business Administration at University of California-Berkeley

Berkeley, CA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
87 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
87
Optimistic
87
Base Case
83
Pessimistic
Earnings $90,008/yr (92% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 16.6x earnings multiple (5.4x out-of-state)
Ranked #2 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 1%

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 $1,030K $986K $822K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.3x 16.6x 13.8x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 5.6x 5.4x 4.5x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 87 87 83

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$59,400
Out-of-state: $182,508 (5.4x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$59,916
-1% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$11,300
1.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$145,003
61% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates of University of California-Berkeley's Business Administration program earn $90,008/yr in their first year — 92% above the $46,892 national median, a strong market signal for this institution.

The 16.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. By pure financial math, this is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 20% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $11,300 in median debt against $90,008 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

A #2 ranking out of 1,169 programs puts University of California-Berkeley in the top 1% for Business Administration. By our composite measure, very few programs deliver stronger results.

Earnings growth from $90,008 to $145,003 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of California-Berkeley

University of California-Berkeley admits 12% of applicants — among the most selective institutions in the country, with 33,073 students enrolled in Berkeley, CA.

See all programs and financial aid at University of California-Berkeley →

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

Compare Business Administration

Other Majors at University of California-Berkeley

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 University of California-Berkeley's Business Administration program score?
A score of 87/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of California-Berkeley's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
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.
Why does University of California-Berkeley rank so high for Business Administration?
The #2 ranking out of 1,169 programs is driven by strong financial outcomes — graduates earn well, debt is manageable relative to income, and the job market supports the field.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →