Business Administration

455 schools compared · Average earnings $35,542/yr

What Business Administration Graduates Do

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.

This path offers a clear ladder for advancement. While you might start as a supervisor, you can climb to a six-figure position as a general manager or a specialized project manager. Overall demand is very high, and the fastest-growing opportunities are for specialists like management analysts, who are brought in to solve complex company problems.

You'll notice software and AI are changing this field by automating routine tasks like data reporting and scheduling. This shift simply places a higher value on the skills that can’t be automated. Your success will hinge on your ability to mentor a team, negotiate with suppliers, and make tough strategic judgment calls. The best managers use technology as a powerful assistant, freeing them up to focus on the human-centered leadership that drives a business forward.

Schools Offering
455
Avg Grad Earnings
$35,542/yr
Avg TradeSchoolOutlook Score
59/100
AI-Proof Rating
Resilient
48% of tasks AI-shielded
Apprenticeship Paths
28

Registered Apprenticeship Pathways

The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 28 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Business Administration. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.

Apprenticeship Training Hours Type Salary RangeSalary Growth
Bank Branch Manager
RAPIDS 2059HY
4288-4760 hrs Hybrid $118K$161,700$214K 14.8%
Bank Branch Manager (Financial Manager, Branch Or Department, Project Management (Banking/Finance)
RAPIDS 2059CB
Competency Competency $118K$161,700$214K 14.8%
Career Development Technician (Alternate Title: Personnel Specialist)
RAPIDS 1057CB
Competency Competency $56K$72,910$97K 6.2%
Energy Auditor And Analyst
RAPIDS 2005HY
2000-3350 hrs Hybrid $61K$81,270$110K 3.0%
Energy Specialist
RAPIDS 2005R1-HY
3900-6000 hrs Hybrid $61K$81,270$110K 3.0%
Energy Specialist
RAPIDS 2005R-HY
2600-4000 hrs Hybrid $61K$81,270$110K 3.0%
Health Information Management Business Analyst
RAPIDS 2027CB
Competency Competency $77K$101,190$133K 8.8%
Health Information Management Data Analyst
RAPIDS 2028CB
Competency Competency $77K$101,190$133K 8.8%
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB
Competency Competency $100K$136,550$179K 4.5%
Home Health Director
RAPIDS 1108CB
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%
It Project Manager
RAPIDS 1048CB
Competency Competency $134K$171,200$216K 15.2%
Long Term Care Nurse Management
RAPIDS 1105CL
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%
Management Systems Auditor
RAPIDS 2082CB
Competency Competency $77K$101,190$133K 8.8%
Manager, Retail Store
RAPIDS 578
6000 hrs
~3.0 yrs
Time $38K$47,320$61K -5.0%
Manager, Retail Store (Store Manager)
RAPIDS 0578CL
Competency Competency $38K$47,320$61K -5.0%
Operations Assistant (Energy)
RAPIDS 2049CB
Competency Competency $61K$81,270$110K 3.0%
Operations Management
RAPIDS 2060HY
4318-4820 hrs Hybrid $67K$102,950$164K 4.4%
Operations Management (General And Operations Managers)
RAPIDS 2060CB
Competency Competency $67K$102,950$164K 4.4%
Purchasing Agent
RAPIDS 948
8000 hrs
~4.0 yrs
Time
Risk Consultation
RAPIDS 2061HY
4288-5735 hrs Hybrid $60K$80,190$109K 3.1%
Risk Consultation (Finacial Quantitative Analysts)
RAPIDS 2061CB
Competency Competency $60K$80,190$109K 3.1%
Risk Management Analyst (Alternate Title: Risk Management Professional)
RAPIDS 2047CB
Competency Competency $60K$80,190$109K 3.1%
Senior Housing Manager
RAPIDS 1109CB
Competency Competency $89K$117,960$162K 23.2%
Storage And Distribution Manager
RAPIDS 2095
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs
Time $78K$102,010$136K 6.1%
Subcontract Administrator
RAPIDS 1126CB
Competency Competency
Subcontract Administrator Assoc.
RAPIDS 1127CB
Competency Competency
Wine Maker (Vinous Liquor)
RAPIDS 34
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs
Time $95K$121,440$156K 1.9%
Youth Development Practitioner
RAPIDS 1039HY
3000-4000 hrs Hybrid $56K$72,910$97K 6.2%

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.

Best Schools for Business Administration

Top 20 of 455 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and AI-proof analysis.

# School Score EarningsEarn ROI
1 Cerritos College
Norwalk, CA
93
87–95
$56,738/yr 333.0x
2 University of Georgia
Athens, GA
92
83–94
$77,610/yr 100.2x
3 Northcentral Technical College
Wausau, WI
92
87–94
$60,405/yr 125.2x
4 Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ
90
85–92
$56,057/yr 119.9x
5 Mendocino College
Ukiah, CA
90
85–92
$49,145/yr 148.2x
6 Dallas College
Dallas, TX
90
84–92
$46,874/yr 217.4x
7 Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, AL
89
81–92
$49,753/yr 134.2x
8 San Bernardino Valley College
San Bernardino, CA
89
83–91
$44,999/yr 193.5x
9 Florida State College at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL
89
83–90
$44,902/yr 155.0x
10 Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN
88
83–90
$71,977/yr 75.6x
11 GateWay Community College
Phoenix, AZ
88
82–90
$42,264/yr 178.2x
12 San Diego Mesa College
San Diego, CA
88
81–90
$40,642/yr 242.0x
13 William Rainey Harper College
Palatine, IL
87
82–89
$59,982/yr 77.5x
14 Broward College
Fort Lauderdale, FL
87
81–88
$50,374/yr 87.7x
15 Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX
87
81–89
$43,700/yr 140.4x
16 South Piedmont Community College
Polkton, NC
87
82–89
$40,686/yr 200.2x
17 Guilford Technical Community College
Jamestown, NC
87
81–89
$40,215/yr 147.5x
18 St Petersburg College
St. Petersburg, FL
86
81–88
$47,669/yr 77.9x
19 Tarrant County College District
Fort Worth, TX
86
80–88
$38,168/yr 281.4x
20 Northern Virginia Community College
Annandale, VA
85
80–87
$47,527/yr 83.9x

Highest Earning Business Administration Programs

Schools where Business Administration graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.

Best ROI for Business Administration

Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Business Administration.

School ROI Multiple Earnings Score
Cerritos College 333.0x $56,738/yr 93
Tarrant County College District 281.4x $38,168/yr 86
Antelope Valley Community College District 242.3x $26,096/yr 77
San Diego Mesa College 242.0x $40,642/yr 88
Pasadena City College 239.5x $20,816/yr 73
Cosumnes River College 226.5x $19,699/yr 71
San Diego City College 225.8x $33,350/yr 83
Dallas College 217.4x $46,874/yr 90
Cuesta College 210.7x $29,983/yr 80
Santa Ana College 205.6x $30,315/yr 81

Related Majors

Explore similar fields of study.

Considering a 4-Year Degree?

Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Business Administration degree programs stack up on earnings, AI disruption risk, and ROI.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Business Administration graduates make in their first year?
The median first-year salary across 455 Business Administration programs is $35,542. School selection matters — the gap between the lowest ($13,181) and highest ($77,610) earning programs is significant.
Will AI replace Business Administration jobs?
Business Administration is rated "Resilient" for AI resilience — 48% of job tasks involve hands-on work shielded from AI automation. That means a moderate share of career tasks in this field rely on skills AI cannot replicate.
Where should I study Business Administration?
Based on the TradeSchoolOutlook Score (combining earnings, AI resilience, job market size, and ROI), Cerritos College ranks #1 for Business Administration with a score of 93/100 and graduate earnings of $56,738/yr.
Do Business Administration graduates get a good return on their tuition?
On average, Business Administration graduates earn 58.1x their in-state tuition over 10 years. This is a strong return on investment.
Data from College Scorecard, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034, DOL RAPIDS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →