Business Administration Degree in Chesapeake, VA — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Chesapeake, VA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$53K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$80K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.1 yrs
in Chesapeake
Cost of Living
91
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Chesapeake, VA Overview
Chesapeake, Virginia (pop. 249,422) has 12 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 91 is near the national average, with average rent near campus at $850/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Chesapeake is approximately $52,780, growing to $80,080 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
12
Public Tuition
$11,558/yr
Private Tuition
$19,500/yr
Room & Board
$9,787/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$9,853/yr
Unemployment
3.8%
Graduation Rate
67%
Business Administration Salary in Chesapeake (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Chesapeake's cost of living index of 91 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Chesapeake adjustment factor: 0.91x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Chesapeake
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Chesapeake tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,558 | Private avg: $19,500
Chesapeake avg aid: $9,853/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$85,380
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$20,930
vs HS diploma in Chesapeake
ROI Payback Period
4.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Chesapeake
$506,120
Lifetime earnings premium ($591,500) minus total education cost ($85,380)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Chesapeake
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Chesapeake for Business Administration
South University Virginia Beach
private
$19,500/yr
$78,000 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Tidewater Community College Chesapeake
$5,340/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Chesapeake
Chesapeake offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Chesapeake Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Virginia Cities
Virginia Beach, VA
$51K starting · COL 88
13 colleges
Arlington, VA
$83K starting · COL 142.5
9 colleges
Norfolk, VA
$54K starting · COL 93
16 colleges
Richmond, VA
$58K starting · COL 100
11 colleges
Newport News, VA
$54K starting · COL 92.5
7 colleges
Alexandria, VA
$59K starting · COL 102
8 colleges
Hampton, VA
$56K starting · COL 97
7 colleges
Roanoke, VA
$51K starting · COL 88.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Chesapeake
Business Analytics
$71K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$64K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$59K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$46K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$46K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$46K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$46K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Chesapeake — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Business Administration ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Chesapeake.