Business Administration at Santa Ana College

Santa Ana, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with 22,011 students enrolled in Santa Ana, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $30,315 track close to the $35,542 national median for Business Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

The 213.3x 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 40% spread between best and worst-case decade earnings. The field isn't immune to disruption.

Ranked #63 out of 455 programs, Santa Ana College's Business Administration program lands in the top 5% — a strong signal of graduate success.

Earnings growth from $30,315 to $48,762 over five years (61% increase) indicates that graduates in this trade see meaningful salary progression.

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

81 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
74
Low End
81
Score
83
High End
Earnings $30,315/yr (-15% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$532K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
225.4x
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)
$2,360
Out-of-state: $18,920
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$48,762
61% 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 Santa Ana 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 Santa Ana College's Business Administration program score?
A score of 81/100 indicates strong financial outcomes. Santa Ana College's Business Administration graduates fare well on earnings, job market size, and return on investment.
How vulnerable is Business Administration to AI automation?
The 47% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.
Is Santa Ana College one of the best schools for Business Administration?
Ranked #63 of 455 programs nationally, Santa Ana College lands in the top 25%. The ranking reflects a combination of graduate earnings, return on investment, and job market alignment.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business Administration?
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.
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 →