Business Administration Degree in Lowell, MA — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Lowell, MA. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$65K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$99K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
4.8 yrs
in Lowell
Cost of Living
112.5
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Lowell, MA Overview
While Lowell has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Business Administration students benefit from the close-knit academic community. Room and board averages $14,748/year, and the car-friendly layout shapes the student experience. Business Administration enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Leadership and Strategic Planning. The adjusted starting salary in Lowell is approximately $65,250, growing to $99,000 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$16,100/yr
Private Tuition
$48,000/yr
Room & Board
$14,748/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$14,502/yr
Unemployment
3%
Graduation Rate
73%
Business Administration Salary in Lowell (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Lowell's cost of living index of 112.5 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Lowell adjustment factor: 1.13x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Lowell
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Lowell tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $16,100 | Private avg: $48,000
Lowell avg aid: $14,502/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$123,392
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$25,875
vs HS diploma in Lowell
ROI Payback Period
4.8 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Lowell
$607,858
Lifetime earnings premium ($731,250) minus total education cost ($123,392)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Lowell
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Lowell for Business Administration
Lowell State University
public
$16,448/yr
$65,792 total
University of Lowell
public
$18,005/yr
$72,020 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Lowell Community College
$6,184/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Lowell
Lowell offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Lowell Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby Massachusetts Cities
Boston, MA
$79K starting · COL 137
24 colleges
Worcester, MA
$68K starting · COL 117
11 colleges
Springfield, MA
$77K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Cambridge, MA
$77K starting · COL 133
6 colleges
Brockton, MA
$63K starting · COL 108.5
5 colleges
Quincy, MA
$75K starting · COL 128.5
4 colleges
New Bedford, MA
$59K starting · COL 102.5
4 colleges
Lynn, MA
$69K starting · COL 118.5
4 colleges
Other Business Majors in Lowell
Business Analytics
$88K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$79K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$56K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$56K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$56K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$70K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$56K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Lowell — 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 Lowell.