Business Administration at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

La Crosse, WI · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
72 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
73
Optimistic
72
Base Case
66
Pessimistic
Earnings $52,521/yr (12% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 14.6x earnings multiple (7.6x out-of-state)
Ranked #181 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 $571K $565K $515K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 14.8x 14.6x 13.3x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 7.6x 7.6x 6.9x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 73 72 66

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$38,604
Out-of-state: $74,764 (7.6x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$61,496
-59% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
5.3 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,725
21% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $52,521 per year, Business Administration graduates from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse earn slightly above the $46,892 national median. The premium is real but not dramatic.

The 14.6x 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 10% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The median debt load of $23,250 represents less than half a year of starting salary — among the lightest debt-to-income ratios we track.

Ranked #181 out of 1,169 programs, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $52,521 to $63,725 shows 21% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

About University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

With 73% of applicants admitted, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse prioritizes broad access, enrolling 9,194 students in La Crosse, WI.

See all programs and financial aid at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse →

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's Business Administration program score?
A score of 72/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse'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 Wisconsin-La Crosse rank so high for Business Administration?
The #181 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 →