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Business Administration at University of Colorado Boulder

Boulder, CO · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
76 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
76
Optimistic
76
Base Case
70
Pessimistic
Earnings $56,014/yr (19% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 11.0x earnings multiple (4.3x out-of-state)
Ranked #62 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 5%

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 $746K $725K $632K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 11.3x 11.0x 9.6x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 4.4x 4.3x 3.8x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 76 76 70

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$65,720
Out-of-state: $167,772 (4.3x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$85,920
-31% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$20,500
4.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$91,156
63% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $56,014/yr, edging above the $46,892 national average for Business Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand.

The 11.0x 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 15% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

At $20,500 in median debt against $56,014 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance in under six months of full earnings.

Ranked #62 out of 1,169 programs, University of Colorado Boulder's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $56,014 to $91,156 over five years (63% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About University of Colorado Boulder

University of Colorado Boulder has a 83% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, serving a student body of 31,578 in Boulder, CO.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Colorado Boulder →

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

Compare this program → View all 1169 schools offering Business Administration →

Business Administration at Other Schools

Manhattan College ($113,777) Bismarck State College ($100,668) Maine Maritime Academy ($98,743) Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891) University of Michigan-Ann Arbor ($93,674) University of Pennsylvania ($91,443) University of California-Berkeley ($90,008) Emory University ($85,682)

Other Majors at University of Colorado Boulder

Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering ($88,957) Computer Engineering ($86,211) Aerospace, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering ($81,835) Computer Science ($77,385) Civil Engineering ($73,033) Architectural Engineering ($72,567) Biochemical Engineering ($70,668) Chemical Engineering ($70,359)

Explore the Trade Alternative

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

Not every career requires a four-year degree. Trade programs in related fields can offer competitive salaries with a fraction of the student loan burden.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Colorado Boulder's Business Administration program score?
A score of 76/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Colorado Boulder'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 Colorado Boulder rank so high for Business Administration?
The #62 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 →