Business Administration at Northern Virginia Community College

Annandale, VA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with 31,737 students enrolled in Annandale, VA.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $30,503/yr, roughly in line with the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 44.4x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Business Administration carry above-average AI exposure (47% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

With first-year pay of $30,503 far exceeding the $10,217 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #301 ranking among 455 Business Administration programs places Northern Virginia Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

The $30,503-to-$59,601 earnings arc over five years reflects a 95% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

The 28 apprenticeship pathways connected to Business Administration reflect strong industry infrastructure for this trade. Apprenticeships typically lead to journeyman-level wages.

68 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59
Low End
68
Score
70
High End
Earnings $30,503/yr (-14% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$535K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
46.9x
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)
$11,406
Out-of-state: $23,572
Median Debt at Graduation
$10,217
4.0 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$59,601
95% 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 Northern Virginia Community 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 Northern Virginia Community College's Business Administration program score?
At 68/100, 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?
AI won't 'replace' Business Administration careers outright, but it is likely to reduce job openings. We model 47% task exposure, which compresses employment probability in our scenarios.
Can I learn Business Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
Business Administration connects to 28 apprenticeship pathways. These DOL-registered programs combine structured training with paid employment — a strong alternative for students who prefer hands-on learning over classroom instruction.
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. Trade careers in this field benefit from consistent replacement demand as workers retire.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →