Business Administration at Pellissippi State Community College

Knoxville, TN · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

serving 6,391 students in Knoxville, TN.

Program Analysis

Graduates earn $32,529/yr, roughly in line with the $35,542 national median for Business Administration. The value proposition here depends on cost, not earnings.

With a 44.2x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

The 18% difference between AI scenarios reflects partial automation exposure. Some Business Administration career paths face changes, but the trade's physical demands provide a buffer.

With first-year pay of $32,529 far exceeding the $8,540 median debt, the payback timeline is measured in months, not years.

A #287 ranking among 455 Business Administration programs places Pellissippi State Community College in the lower half. Price, proximity, and personal fit become the stronger arguments.

A 23% earnings increase from $32,529 to $39,896 over five years is solid — not a moonshot, but evidence of normal career advancement.

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

69 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
63
Low End
69
Score
71
High End
Earnings $32,529/yr (-8% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$414K
5.2% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
45.2x
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)
$9,152
Out-of-state: $35,552
Median Debt at Graduation
$8,540
3.2 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$39,896
23% 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 Pellissippi State 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 Pellissippi State Community College's Business Administration program score?
At 69/100, 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.
Should I worry about AI if I study Business Administration?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $340,324 in decade earnings vs $413,683 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
What's the typical debt for Business Administration graduates from Pellissippi State Community College?
At $8,540 in median debt, Business Administration graduates from Pellissippi State Community College carry minimal financial burden. The debt-to-income ratio of 0.3x is well below the trade program average.
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?
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 →