Business Administration at Del Mar College

Corpus Christi, TX · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with a mid-sized student body of 9,038 in Corpus Christi, TX.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,980/yr, roughly in line with the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

The 66.6x earnings multiple means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition cost by an order of magnitude. Trade programs often deliver strong ratios, and this one is a standout.

AI risk is moderate — 47% task exposure — and the 27% scenario spread suggests disruption would dent but not destroy the earnings outlook for Business Administration graduates.

With first-year pay of $32,980 far exceeding the $4,700 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

Ranked #189 out of 455 programs, Del Mar College's Business Administration offering sits in the upper half but doesn't break into the top tier.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $32,980 to $44,622 shows 35% growth, reflecting steady but unremarkable salary progression.

With 28 registered apprenticeships mapped to Business Administration, graduates have substantial options for hands-on training paths that pay from day one.

74 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
67
Low End
74
Score
77
High End
Earnings $32,980/yr (-7% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$474K
7.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
69.0x
10-year earnings ÷ tuition
Viable Career Paths
42 of 42
Occupations with strong AI resilience

Projected 10-Year Earnings

Based on actual graduate salary data and Bureau of Labor Statistics growth projections.

Program Tuition (In-State)
$6,880
Out-of-state: $12,100
Median Debt at Graduation
$4,700
1.7 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$44,622
35% growth from Year 1

Top Career Paths

Top career paths for Business Administration graduates by median salary.

Career Path Median Salary Growth AI-ProofAI
Chief executives $206,420 +4.3% 44%
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 +15.2% 47%
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 +3.8% 59%
Chief executives
$206,420
+4.3% growth 44% AI-proof
Computer and information systems managers
$171,200
+15.2% growth 47% AI-proof
Architectural and engineering managers
$167,740
+3.8% growth 59% AI-proof

View all 42 career paths with full salary data →

Business Administration Career Guide

See the full career breakdown for Business Administration — job titles, salary ranges, and growth projections for graduates from Del Mar College and 454 other schools.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Del Mar College

Explore the Degree Alternative

Not sure if a trade program or four-year degree fits better? Compare both paths.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Del Mar College's Business Administration program score?
At 74/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI affect Business Administration careers?
AI exposure of 47% is a real factor. For Del Mar College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($474,403) and pessimistic ($345,044) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
How affordable is Business Administration at Del Mar College?
Median debt of just $4,700 against $32,980/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 2 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
What apprenticeship pathways exist for Business Administration graduates?
There are 28 registered apprenticeships connected to Business Administration occupations, such as Bank Branch Manager and Bank Branch Manager (Financial Manager, Branch Or Department, Project Management (Banking/Finance). The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
Is there demand for Business Administration workers?
The career paths mapped to Business Administration have roughly 1,753,300 combined annual openings nationally, making this a very large job market. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →