Business at Westfield State University

Westfield, MA · Public · Bachelor's Degree · Business/Commerce, General
65 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition
66
Optimistic
65
Base Case
61
Pessimistic
Earnings $41,862/yr (-13% vs median)
AI Risk High (46% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (832,900 openings/yr)
ROI 12.4x earnings multiple (8.2x out-of-state)
Ranked #114 of 242 Business/Commerce, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Business graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $597K $588K $534K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 12.6x 12.4x 11.2x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 8.3x 8.2x 7.4x
Probability of Field Employment 49% 45% 34%
DegreeOutlook Score 66 65 61

10-Year Earnings Projection

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

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)
$47,528
Out-of-state: $71,848 (8.2x ROI)
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$74,244
-56% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$23,250
6.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$63,772
52% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $41,862/yr, roughly in line with the $48,211 national median for Business. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 12.4x 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 — 46% task exposure — and the 11% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook.

The $23,250 debt-to-$41,862 income ratio translates to about 7 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

Ranked #114 out of 242 programs, Westfield State University's Business offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

Earnings growth from $41,862 to $63,772 over five years (52% increase) indicates that graduates in this field see meaningful salary progression.

About Westfield State University

Westfield State University accepts 81% of applicants — an open-access institution by design, a smaller institution with 3,481 students in Westfield, MA.

See all programs and financial aid at Westfield State University →

Top Career Paths

Chief executives $206,420/yr
Sales managers $138,060/yr
Managers, all other $136,550/yr
View all 16 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Business at Other Schools

Other Majors at Westfield State University

Explore the Trade Alternative

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 Westfield State University's Business program score?
This program scores 65/100, reflecting respectable but not exceptional financial outcomes for Business graduates.
How vulnerable is Business to AI automation?
AI won't 'replace' Business careers outright, but it is likely to reduce the number of job openings. We model 46% task exposure, which compresses field employment probability in our scenarios.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →