Business Administration Degree in Columbia, MO — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Columbia, MO. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$49K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$74K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.6 yrs
in Columbia
Cost of Living
84
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Columbia, MO Overview
Columbia, Missouri (pop. 126,254) has 10 colleges offering Business Administration programs. The local cost of living index of 84 keeps student expenses low, with average rent near campus at $1,005/month. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Columbia is approximately $48,720, growing to $73,920 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
10
Public Tuition
$11,142/yr
Private Tuition
$31,070/yr
Room & Board
$10,910/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$16,890/yr
Unemployment
3.4%
Graduation Rate
63%
Business Administration Salary in Columbia (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Columbia's cost of living index of 84 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Columbia adjustment factor: 0.84x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Columbia
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Columbia tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $11,142 | Private avg: $31,070
Columbia avg aid: $16,890/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$88,208
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$19,320
vs HS diploma in Columbia
ROI Payback Period
4.6 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Columbia
$457,792
Lifetime earnings premium ($546,000) minus total education cost ($88,208)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Columbia
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Columbia for Business Administration
University of Missouri
public
$11,142/yr
$44,568 total
Stephens College
private
$31,070/yr
$124,280 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Moberly Area Community College Columbia
$3,900/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Columbia
Columbia offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Columbia Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Missouri Cities
Kansas City, MO
$55K starting · COL 94
44 colleges
St. Louis, MO
$56K starting · COL 97
23 colleges
Springfield, MO
$46K starting · COL 80
5 colleges
Independence, MO
$50K starting · COL 85.8
5 colleges
Lee's Summit, MO
$55K starting · COL 95.5
4 colleges
OFallon, MO
$51K starting · COL 87.3
4 colleges
St. Joseph, MO
$52K starting · COL 90.4
3 colleges
St. Charles, MO
$48K starting · COL 83.4
3 colleges
Other Business Majors in Columbia
Business Analytics
$66K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$59K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$55K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$42K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$42K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$42K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$52K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$42K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Columbia — 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 Columbia.