Business Administration: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs California State University Maritime Academy

Side-by-side ROI comparison · Bachelor's Degree
Return on Investment
10-year earnings ÷ tuition · higher is better
In-State
17.1x
$44,300 tuition
22.0x
$30,688 tuition
Out-of-State
6.1x
$123,980 tuition
8.6x
$78,208 tuition
$759,240 10-yr earnings · Public
$674,044 10-yr earnings · Public

Head-to-Head

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California State University Maritime Academy
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 8.6x
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $30,688
Year 1 Earnings $71,876 $57,265
10-Year Earnings $759K $674K
Median Debt $16,633 $20,500
Debt-to-Earnings Ratio 2.8 months 4.3 months
DegreeWorth Score (In-State) 76/100 77/100
Acceptance Rate 29.8% 98.7%

Both programs have high AI automation risk (47% task exposure) — the same career paths apply to Business Administration graduates regardless of school. See full AI analysis →

ROI Breakdown

How tuition costs translate into long-term earnings for Business Administration graduates.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California State University Maritime Academy
4-Year Tuition (In-State) $44,300 $30,688
4-Year Tuition (Out-of-State) $123,980 $78,208
10-Year Projected Earnings $759K $674K
Earnings Multiple (In-State) 17.1x 22.0x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State) 6.1x 8.6x
5-Year Salary Growth +43% +46%

"Earnings Multiple" = projected 10-year earnings ÷ 4-year tuition. Higher is better. Not a discounted financial ROI.

AI Disruption Scenarios

Both schools share identical AI exposure for Business Administration (same career paths). The score differences below reflect how each school's earnings and ROI hold up under stress.

California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo California State University Maritime Academy
Optim. Base Pessim. Optim. Base Pessim.
10-Year Earnings $783K $759K $657K $690K $674K $595K
Earnings Multiple (IS) 17.7x 17.1x 14.8x 22.5x 22.0x 19.4x
DegreeWorth Score 77 76 69 78 77 70

For the full AI analysis of Business Administration career paths, see the California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or California State University Maritime Academy program pages.

Earnings Trajectory Comparison

Projected annual earnings for Business Administration graduates. Year 1 uses actual reported data.

Tuition Gap (In-State)
$13,612
California State University Maritime Academy saves you this
Year 1 Earnings Gap
$14,611/yr
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo grads earn more
ROI Range (In-State)
17.1x / 22.0x
Out-of-state: 6.1x / 8.6x

Career Paths

Business Administration graduates from both schools map to the same career paths. Differences in earnings reflect school prestige, location, and employer networks.

Career Path Wage Openings/yr Growth AI Risk
Chief executives $206,420 22,200 +4.3% 56%
Computer and information systems managers $171,200 55,600 +15.2% 53%
Architectural and engineering managers $167,740 14,500 +3.8% 41%
Financial managers $161,700 74,600 +14.8% 50%
Natural sciences managers $161,180 8,500 +3.7% 50%
Compensation and benefits managers $140,360 1,500 +0.2% 51%
Human resources managers $140,030 17,900 +5.0% 48%
Purchasing managers $139,510 6,400 +3.1% 59%
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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for Business Administration: California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo or California State University Maritime Academy?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo scores 76/100 while California State University Maritime Academy scores 77/100. California State University Maritime Academy has significantly lower tuition, which drives its higher ROI. The best choice depends on whether you prioritize raw earnings or return on investment.
Which school has better ROI for Business Administration?
California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo has an in-state earnings multiple of 17.1x vs California State University Maritime Academy's 22.0x. That means California State University Maritime Academy grads earn more per dollar spent on tuition.
How do California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and California State University Maritime Academy compare on Business Administration earnings?
Year 1 median earnings are $71,876 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo vs $57,265 at California State University Maritime Academy. Over 10 years, the projected totals are $759,240 vs $674,044 — a difference of $85,196.
How much does Business Administration cost at each school?
Four-year in-state tuition is $44,300 at California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and $30,688 at California State University Maritime Academy. Median debt at graduation is $16,633 vs $20,500. Both programs lead to the same Business Administration career paths — the cost difference is the main factor in ROI.
Data: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (earnings, debt), Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024-2034 (employment projections), OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs research (AI task exposure), Felten et al. AIOE. Scenarios use a continuous weighting function combining AI exposure and BLS job growth projections. "Earnings Multiple" is total 10-year projected earnings divided by tuition — not a discounted financial ROI. Last updated 2025.