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 →

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 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.
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 $348,915 in decade earnings vs $580,611 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Can I learn Business Administration through an apprenticeship instead?
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 →