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 →

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 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.
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 $441,212 in decade earnings vs $459,730 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
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.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business Administration?
Yes — 28 registered apprenticeship programs are mapped to Business Administration career paths, including Bank Branch Manager. Apprenticeships offer paid on-the-job training as an alternative or complement to certificate programs.
How many job openings are there for Business Administration graduates?
With approximately 1,753,300 annual openings across mapped careers, Business Administration offers a very large employment pool. Physical trades tend to have steady demand driven by infrastructure and construction cycles.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →