Business Administration at San Diego City College

San Diego, CA · Public · Associate Degree · Business Administration, Management and Operations

with a mid-sized student body of 10,584 in San Diego, CA.

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $33,350 track close to the $35,542 national median for Business Administration programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

With a 239.1x return on tuition over ten years, the financial case for this program is compelling by virtually any measure.

Career paths for Business Administration carry above-average AI exposure (47% of tasks). The 40% scenario spread means the difference between optimistic and pessimistic outcomes is substantial.

At #35 of 455 programs, this Business Administration program outperforms the majority of its peers. The top 10% ranking reflects consistently above-average outcomes.

The $33,350-to-$52,169 earnings arc over five years reflects a 56% gain — well above average career growth for trade school graduates.

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

83 /100
TradeSchoolOutlook Score
76
Low End
83
Score
85
High End
Earnings $33,350/yr (-6% vs median)
AI-Proof Moderate (53% shielded)
Job Market Very Large (1,753,300 openings/yr)

Earnings Overview

Projected 10-Year Earnings
$581K
11.8% annual growth
Earnings Multiple (In-State)
252.4x
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)
$2,300
Out-of-state: $18,188
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$52,169
56% 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 →

Business Administration Career Guide

What can you do with a Business Administration credential from San Diego City College? Our career guide maps every occupation path with earnings and growth data.

Read the full Business Administration career guide →

Compare & Explore

Business Administration Overview

Business Administration at Other Schools

Other Majors at San Diego City College

Considering a 4-Year Degree Instead?

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a 83/100 TradeSchoolOutlook Score mean for Business Administration at San Diego City College?
At 83/100, this is a high-performing trade program. The TradeSchoolOutlook Score combines earnings, AI resilience, and ROI — and this program delivers on all three.
Will AI affect Business Administration careers?
With 47% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $348,915 in decade earnings vs $580,611 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Are there apprenticeship options for Business Administration?
If San Diego City College's tuition gives you pause, consider that 28 DOL-registered apprenticeship pathways exist for Business Administration. You'd earn while training, avoiding student debt entirely — though completion takes longer than a certificate program.
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. Demand is driven by consistent replacement demand and industry growth.
Data from College Scorecard, BLS, and AI resilience research. Methodology & sources →