Business Administration at National American University-Rapid City

Rapid City, SD · Private for-profit · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

a smaller institution with 832 students in Rapid City, SD.

Program Analysis

National American University-Rapid City's Business Administration program produces graduates earning $33,364/yr — within striking distance of the $35,542 national average for this trade.

The 15.0x 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 exposure is significant at 47% of job tasks, producing a 30% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

The $17,178 debt-to-$33,364 income ratio translates to about 6 months of earnings. Standard loan terms should handle this comfortably.

At #370 out of 455 programs, National American University-Rapid City's financial outcomes for Business Administration trail the majority of peers. The value case depends on other factors.

The five-year earnings trajectory from $33,364 to $46,731 shows 40% 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.

62 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
55
Low End
62
Score
64
High End
Earnings $33,364/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$502K
8.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple
15.6x
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
$32,130
Median Debt at Graduation
$17,178
6.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$46,731
40% 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 →

About Business Administration Careers

Your career will likely begin on the front lines as a supervisor, where your day revolves around people. You’ll be creating work schedules, training new hires on office procedures, approving timesheets, and serving as the go-to person for your team’s daily questions. With experience, you can advance into an operations manager role. Here, your focus shifts to the bigger picture: analyzing performance data in spreadsheets to find efficiencies, managing departmental budgets, and solving logistical puzzles to keep the entire business running smoothly.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at National American University-Rapid City

Trade Certificate vs. Bachelor's Degree

Weigh shorter time-to-career against higher earning ceilings. The numbers tell the story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 62/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at National American University-Rapid City?
At 62/100, the score looks reasonable — but Business Administration is a high-scoring trade overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.
How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $349,063 in decade earnings vs $501,802 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can I learn Business Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
There are 28 registered apprenticeships connected to Business Administration occupations. The earn-while-you-learn model means no tuition debt and immediate income, though the training period is typically longer.
How many job openings are there for Business Administration graduates?
With approximately 1,753,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Business Administration offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →