Business Administration at Cosumnes River College

Sacramento, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

serving 13,527 students in Sacramento, CA.

Program Analysis

Starting salaries of $19,699/yr fall 45% below the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The financial case depends heavily on whether tuition compensates.

Every dollar of tuition returns an estimated 127.0x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Business Administration programs nationally.

The 40% gap between optimistic and pessimistic AI scenarios is notable. With 47% of typical tasks exposed to automation, AI adoption could meaningfully shift career outcomes for Business Administration graduates.

Ranked #231 of 455 Business Administration programs, Cosumnes River College falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $58,609 show a 198% jump from the $19,699 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration in this trade.

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

71 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
71
Score
74
High End
Earnings $19,699/yr (-45% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$346K
12.0% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
134.2x
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)
$2,576
Out-of-state: $25,616
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$58,609
198% 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

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the TradeSchoolOutlook Score for Business Administration at Cosumnes River College?
A score of 71/100 reflects decent absolute metrics, but Cosumnes River College trails the majority of Business Administration programs on relative rankings. Context matters more than the raw number.
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 $206,096 in decade earnings vs $345,692 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Why are Business Administration earnings lower at Cosumnes River College?
First-year earnings trail the national median, but starting salary isn't the full picture. Regional cost of living, career trajectory, and tuition cost all factor in. Check the five-year earnings data when available.
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.
How many job openings are there for Business Administration graduates?
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 →