Business Administration Degree in Wilmington, NC — Salary & ROI 2026
Business Administration degree analysis for Wilmington, NC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$55K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$84K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.1 yrs
in Wilmington
Cost of Living
95
index (100 = avg)
Business Administration in Wilmington, NC Overview
While Wilmington has a smaller college scene with 5 institutions, Business Administration students benefit from lower tuition costs. Room and board averages $9,779/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 Wilmington is approximately $55,100, growing to $83,600 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
5
Public Tuition
$7,287/yr
Private Tuition
$34,393/yr
Room & Board
$9,779/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$13,831/yr
Unemployment
6.8%
Graduation Rate
48%
Business Administration Salary in Wilmington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Wilmington's cost of living index of 95 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Business Administration salary: $58,000 starting, $88,000 mid-career, $115,000 senior level.Wilmington adjustment factor: 0.95x based on the local cost of living index.
Business Administration ROI Calculator for Wilmington
Estimate your return on investment for a Business Administration degree using local Wilmington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $7,287 | Private avg: $34,393
Wilmington avg aid: $13,831/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$68,264
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,850
vs HS diploma in Wilmington
ROI Payback Period
3.1 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Wilmington
$549,236
Lifetime earnings premium ($617,500) minus total education cost ($68,264)
Student Loan Payoff for Business Administration in Wilmington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Wilmington for Business Administration
University of North Carolina Wilmington
public
$7,287/yr
$29,148 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
Cape Fear Community College
$2,864/yr
Top Employers for Business Administration in Wilmington
Wilmington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Business Administration graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Wilmington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Business Administration Job Titles
Business Administration in Nearby North Carolina Cities
Charlotte, NC
$52K starting · COL 89
39 colleges
Raleigh, NC
$48K starting · COL 83
21 colleges
Greensboro, NC
$53K starting · COL 91
17 colleges
Durham, NC
$63K starting · COL 109
25 colleges
Winston-Salem, NC
$61K starting · COL 106
26 colleges
Fayetteville, NC
$52K starting · COL 90
15 colleges
Cary, NC
$63K starting · COL 108.5
7 colleges
High Point, NC
$49K starting · COL 84.5
5 colleges
Other Business Majors in Wilmington
Business Analytics
$74K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$67K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$62K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$48K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$48K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$48K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$59K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$48K starting · 4 yr ROI
Business Administration Degree in Wilmington — 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 Wilmington.