Business Administration at Northcentral Technical College

Wausau, WI · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with a smaller student body of 3,479 in Wausau, WI.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $42,172/yr, edging above the $35,542 national average for Business Administration — a modest premium that suggests solid regional demand for this trade.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 59.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Business Administration's career paths, with 47% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 4% gap from the optimistic case.

At $10,250 in median debt against $42,172 in first-year earnings, graduates can expect to clear their loan balance quickly — a hallmark of affordable trade programs.

At #111 of 455 nationally, this is a top-5% Business Administration program. Financial outcomes consistently outperform the vast majority of peers.

Five-year earnings of $45,475 are relatively flat compared to the $42,172 starting salary — typical of trades with stable but capped salary bands.

Business Administration offers 28 registered apprenticeship pathways — an unusually broad set of earn-while-you-learn alternatives to the classroom track.

78 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
73
Low End
78
Score
80
High End
Earnings $42,172/yr (19% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$460K
1.9% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
59.5x
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)
$7,722
Out-of-state: $11,230
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,250
2.9 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$45,475
8% 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

Explore what Business Administration graduates do, from entry-level roles to long-term career paths across 455 programs nationwide.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at Northcentral Technical College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

Compare how bachelor's degree graduates fare on earnings, ROI, and AI resilience.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Northcentral Technical College's Business Administration program score?
This program scores 78/100 — placing it among the stronger programs for Business Administration nationally. The score reflects above-average earnings, hands-on AI resilience, and solid financial return.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration at Northcentral Technical College?
AI exposure of 47% is a real factor. For Northcentral Technical College specifically, the gap between optimistic ($459,730) and pessimistic ($441,212) decade earnings reflects that uncertainty.
What's the typical debt for Business Administration graduates from Northcentral Technical College?
Median debt of just $10,250 against $42,172/yr in starting salary means graduates can clear their loans in under 3 months. This is one of the more affordable paths in our dataset.
Why does Northcentral Technical College rank so high for Business Administration?
Ranked #111 of 455 programs nationally, Northcentral Technical College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Should I consider an apprenticeship over a Business Administration program at Northcentral Technical College?
If Northcentral Technical College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 28 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Business Administration. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
What's the job market like for Business Administration from Northcentral Technical College?
With approximately 1,753,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Business Administration offers a very large employment pool. Northcentral Technical College graduates enter a market shaped by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →