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A business degree prepares graduates for careers in many industries, including healthcare, marketing, information technology, and financial services.

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Business Degrees

Students have a lot of options when it comes to earning a business degree. Business is the most popular major for undergraduates, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. A business degree prepares graduates for careers in many industries, including healthcare, marketing, information technology, and financial services. Business graduates often enjoy above-average salaries and strong job growth.

This article explores business degrees at every level, helping illuminate what you can do with a business degree and what your future earning potential could be.

Top Online Business Schools

What Kinds of Business Degrees Are There?

Students can earn business degrees at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral levels. Each degree can provide focused training for specific business career paths after graduation. For example, graduates with bachelor’s degrees qualify for entry-level positions like operations research analyst and budget analyst. Supervisory roles like financial manageror marketing manager often require a master’s degree in business.

Professionals can increase their earning potential and job opportunities by earning higher degrees. As the following chart shows, professionals with bachelor’s degrees in business earn more than those with associate degrees, and individuals with master’s degrees earn more than those at the undergraduate level.

Some roles also require graduate-level degrees. For example, many employers prefer to hire managers and executives with MBAs or master’s degrees in management.

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Associate Degree in Business

An associate degree in business introduces students to core business fields like accounting, marketing, human resources, and finance. Through these foundational courses, learners explore business principles, marketing strategies, and laws and regulations governing corporations. Students can further focus their studies by choosing an associate degree in management or an associate degree in entrepreneurship.

Completing an associate degree typically takes two years, and graduates can find work as lodging managers, bookkeepers, and financial clerks. Graduates can also transfer to a four-year college to earn a bachelor’s in business administration, which takes an additional two years of study. Many career paths in business require a bachelor’s degree. You can learn more about the best associate degrees in business administration from our guide.

Best Online Associate’s in Business

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Bachelor’s Degree in Business

A bachelor’s degree in business teaches students to analyze data, supervise teams, and make business strategy decisions. Undergraduates can specialize their degrees by choosing a bachelor’s in business management, which emphasizes management skills, or a bachelor’s in entrepreneurship to become a business founder. Many programs also offer electives or concentrations in human resources management, healthcare administration, or logistics.

In many industries, a bachelor’s degree meets the minimum requirement for entry level roles.

With business degrees, graduates work as market research analysts, accountants, and management analysts. Earning a bachelor’s degree generally takes four years for full-time students. Learn more about the best bachelor’s programs in business with our guide.

BBA vs. BA in Business vs. BS in Business?

A bachelor’s in business administration (BBA) often includes more business courses and fewer general education requirements, focusing on a practical education. Students pursuing bachelor of arts (BA) in business degrees take more humanities and social science courses. They must often meet a foreign language requirement, too. A bachelor of science (BS) in business includes courses that focus more on STEM topics. For example, BS students may need to take statistics, advanced math, or economics.

Each of these bachelor’s degree options typically require 120 credits and four years of courses, though specific graduation requirements vary.

Popular Business Majors

Within business, undergraduates can choose from more than a dozen majors, including accounting, finance, marketing, and human resources. Students can also earn degrees in specific industries, like healthcare administration, hospitality management, or supply chain management. Average salaries vary depending on the major.

Business Career Outlooks by Major

Major
Average Salary

Accounting
$70,750

Entrepreneurship
$60,470

Finance
$71,790

Healthcare Administration
$60,610

Hospitality Management
$55,610

Human Resources
$61,180

International Business
$67,920

Marketing
$62,380

Supply Chain and Logistics
$63,380

Source: PayScale

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Master’s Degree in Business

A master’s degree in business trains graduate students in advanced business practices and techniques. At the graduate level, an enrollee can earn a master’s in management, which provides focused management training, or a master of business administration (MBA) degree. An MBA degree generally takes two years to complete, though some accelerated programs offer one-year MBAs. Earning a master’s in management typically takes one year.

During a master’s program, business students explore high-level business management concepts like operations management, organizational behavior, and leadership theory. These programs often incorporate internships to provide practical experience. Many MBA students also specialize their degrees with concentrations, such as entrepreneurship, project management, finance, and international business.

Graduates with master’s degrees in business can pursue leadership roles in many different fields. For example, they can work as financial managers, marketing executives, and operations managers. They can also pursue executive-level roles, like CEO or COO.

Popular MBA Concentrations

While graduate students can earn general MBAs, most programs also offer MBA specializations, which prepare graduates for careers in specific industries. Some concentrations offer higher average salaries than others, as the following table shows.

MBA Career Outlooks

MBA
Average Salary

Executive MBA
$117,090

MBA in Entrepreneurship
$100,390

MBA in Finance
$99,140

MBA in Healthcare Administration
$82,360

MBA in International Business
$95,190

MBA in Management Information Systems
$102,350

MBA in Project Management
$82,580

MBA in Sustainability
$79,410

Source: PayScale

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Doctoral Degree in Business

As the highest degree in business, a doctorate prepares graduates for research, academic, and leadership positions. At the doctoral level, a student can earn a Ph.D. in business administration or a doctorate in business administration (DBA). A DBA trains students for roles in business, such as chief executive officer, while the research-focused Ph.D. more typically leads to academic careers, like business professor.

During doctoral programs, business students focus their studies on business theory, management, marketing, or other specializations, often within a specific industry. A doctorate requires a significant time commitment; earning the degree generally takes 3-6 years, after completing a master’s degree. As a result, prospective students should carefully consider whether they need a doctorate to reach their career goals.

Learn more about online master’s in management programs and online doctorate in management programs from our helpful guides.

Business Degree Career Paths

A business degree trains graduates for careers in growing industries like healthcare, technology, and financial services. During a business degree, students take courses in marketing, accounting, finance, and management.

In addition to learning career-ready skills, majors can also specialize their degrees around their professional goals. For example, students interested in healthcare can take courses in health services management, while those pursuing tech jobs can take information technology classes.

This section introduces the primary industries where business graduates find work. Business degrees can also lead to opportunities in marketing, communication, politics, and human resources management.

Healthcare

In the healthcare industry, business majors oversee teams that provide medical services, manage medical records, and consult on business best practices. For example, medical and health services managers, also known as healthcare administrators or healthcare executives, help healthcare organizations run smoothly. They make sure organizations follow applicable laws and regulations, set departmental goals, and supervise staff members.

Similarly, nursing home administrators oversee elder care facilities, and health information managers maintain patient records. A bachelor’s degree in business administration with coursework in healthcare management prepares graduates for these roles.

Classes on medical terminology, health information systems, and human resources administration also provide valuable training for healthcare jobs that do not require clinical training. Employers hiring for management-level roles may expect candidates to have master’s degrees.

Technology

The information technology sector needs professionals with a blend of business and technology training. For example, computer systems analysts and IT managers use their business training to advise organizations on how to improve efficiency and effectiveness through the use of technology. In these roles, professionals examine computer systems and procedures to create business solutions and advise executives on technology-related decisions.

A career in technology doesn’t always require a computer science degree. Instead, many tech professionals hold bachelor’s degrees in business technology or information technology. Supervisory positions often require previous work experience or a master’s degree. Employers may look for candidates with MBAs specializing in information technology management, management information systems, or information systems.

Financial Services

The financial services industry employs business graduates in roles like financial manager, procurement manager, financial analyst, and financial examiner. In these roles, professionals evaluate financial data to help businesses make decisions about their investment strategies and financial health. They also evaluate an organization’s efficiency andstudy economic trends to anticipate changes in the market.

Financial managers oversee employees charged with creating financial reports. They analyze market trends to increase profits, create plans to reach long-term organizational goals, and advise executives on financial decisions.

Most financial services careers require candidates to have bachelor’s degrees in business, usually with a concentration or coursework in finance. Related majors like economics, accounting, or management can also help graduates pursue finance jobs. Some management-level roles may require a graduate degree.

Salary Potential for Business Degrees

Many career paths in business offer above-average salaries and strong job growth projections. In roles like engineering manager, marketing manager, financial manager, and IT manager, median salaries reach six figures. To qualify for these management-level roles, candidates often need graduate degrees, although a bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience may meet requirements in some companies.

The following table provides career outlook and earning potential data for different business careers.

Business Career Outlooks

Career
Median Annual Salary
Job Growth (2019-2029)
Typical Degree Needed

Computer and Information Systems Managers
$146,360
10%
Bachelor’s

Architectural and Engineering Managers
$144,830
3%
Bachelor’s

Advertising, Promotions, and Marketing Managers
$135,900
6%
Bachelor’s

Financial Managers
$129,890
15%
Bachelor’s

Sales Managers
$126,640
4%
Bachelor’s

Top Executives
$104,690
4%
Bachelor’s

Logisticians
$74,750
4%
Bachelor’s

Purchasing Managers, Buyers, and Purchasing Agents
$69,600
-7%
Bachelor’s

Human Resources Specialists
$61,920
7%
Bachelor’s

Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners
$50,600
8%
Bachelor’s

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Degrees

Is a Business Degree Hard?

The difficulty of a business degree depends on your personal aptitude and interests. Driven and attentive individuals can succeed as business majors, especially if they seek out degrees that apply to their personal and professional goals.

What Is the Best Business Major?

Within business, majors can specialize their training in areas like finance, accounting, international business, and marketing. Some programs also offer specializations in healthcare administration, e-commerce, and entrepreneurship. The best business major is one that fulfills a student’s personal career aspirations and interests.

What Do You Get From a Business Degree?

During a business degree, students study core topics in business, like marketing, finance, accounting, and human resources. The degree also trains students to analyze data, design and implement business strategies, and evaluate an organization’s effectiveness. Business graduates can find work across many growing industries.

How Long Does it Take to Get a Degree in Business?

Earning a bachelor’s degree in business generally takes four years, and an MBA takes an additional two years. Accelerated programs can offer a faster route to the degree, though they are often more challenging.