Home › Western Illinois University › Business Administration

Business Administration at Western Illinois University

Macomb, IL · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations
63 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
64
Optimistic
63
Base Case
57
Pessimistic
Earnings $45,137/yr (-4% vs median)
AI Risk High (47% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)
ROI 9.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #507 of 1,169 Business Administration programs Top 50%

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 $563K $514K
Earnings Multiple 9.5x 9.4x 8.6x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 64 63 57

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$59,808
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$46,368
22% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$24,312
6.5 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$61,543
36% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $45,137/yr, roughly in line with the $46,892 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

A 9.4x earnings multiple over ten years puts this program in solid financial territory. Tuition is well-justified by projected earnings.

The 10% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face displacement, but others in the field are more insulated.

At $24,312 against $45,137/yr in earnings, the debt burden is moderate. Most graduates should manage repayment without extended financial strain.

A #507 ranking among 1,169 Business Administration programs places Western Illinois University in the middle-to-upper range. Solid, not exceptional.

A 36% earnings increase from $45,137 to $61,543 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

About Western Illinois University

Western Illinois University accepts 75% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a compact campus enrolling 4,939 students in Macomb, IL.

See all programs and financial aid at Western Illinois 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

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 Western Illinois University

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing ($74,490) Construction Management ($70,789) Engineering, General ($66,112) Engineering Technology, General ($64,762) Computer and Information Sciences, General ($62,578) Accounting and Related Services ($49,900) Agriculture, General ($48,509) Human Resources Management and Services ($47,467)

Consider the Trade Route?

Compare Business Administration trade programs on TradeSchoolWorth →

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 does a 63/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at Western Illinois University?
At 63/100, Western Illinois University's Business Administration program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at Western Illinois University?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →