Business Management Bachelor's Degrees for Management Careers

Given its flexibility, business management as a field of study is offered in several kinds of degrees in a significant portion of American universities. Consider the following recommendations when choosing what type of business management degree is best suited to your needs.

Associate Degrees in Business Management

An associate degree in business management will typically last 2 years for a full-time student, compared to a bachelor's 4 years. As such, it will cost less and offer more concentrated coursework to prepare students. An associate degree will focus on the technical aspects of business, introducing students to financial management and administration. Additionally, students will learn about leadership techniques and productivity optimization. It should be noted that an associate degree may not fully prepare students for managerial positions, as many companies expect candidates to have completed a bachelor's degree instead.

Bachelor's Degrees in Business Management

There are many types of bachelor's degrees in business management. Some universities offer it as a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.). During the 4 years it typically lasts, a bachelor's degree will allow students to delve deeper into organizational theory and leadership. Additionally, courses within such programs cover business communication, entrepreneurship, finances, and data sciences and operations. Elective courses offered as part of the bachelor's degree can also allow students to explore specific avenues within the field to best fit their career plan.

Depending on which minors accompany it, a major in business management can be channeled into a wide range of industries.

Difference Between a B.S. and a B.B.A. in Business Management

Most business management degrees will be offered as either a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Business Administration. Each will imply different courses and a different approach entirely.

A Bachelor of Science will focus its coursework on the technical aspects of business management. A special emphasis is placed on mathematical subjects, such as accounting, micro and macroeconomics, and finances. It is, therefore, better suited for a career in financial management and operations analyst. Students arrive at a clear sense of systems management as it relates to the corporate world.

A Bachelor of Business Administration, however, is typically part of a university's liberal arts program. This means that a student will be exposed to a variety of subjects outside business, such as literature, sociology, and philosophy. The humanities play a bigger role during a student's time in school. A B.B.A. can be channeled into a career in human resources, entrepreneurship, and business communications.

Master's Degrees in Business Management

By far, the most common iteration of a master's degree in business management is the M.B.A., the Master of Business Administration degree. An M.B.A. will best prepare students for managerial positions, covering team management, business strategy, and the specifics of business operations and finances. Oftentimes, it is a requirement for professionals seeking promotions at their place of work.

Many universities offer master's degrees outside the usual M.B.A. that focus on specific facets of business management. Some of these can include a Master of Science in Business Analytics or Management Studies.

Doctoral Degrees in Business Management

A Ph.D. in Business Administration and Management will focus on research into management theory, education, and practical application. Candidates for a doctoral degree develop advanced knowledge of the art of business, contextualized within social, political, and economic frameworks. Students will be expected to produce their own theories of business management and test them through rigorous research, later to be published in peer-reviewed journals. Oftentimes, a doctoral degree will prepare graduates to teach at an undergraduate and master's level.

1. College of Central Florida

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$2710	No Available Data (2019-2020)	35%	84%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

2. South Florida State College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$3165	No Available Data (2019-2020)	49%	83%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

3. Clark College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$3879	No Available Data (2019-2020)	31%	55%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

4. Northwood University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$28080	79%	54%	98%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

5. Broward College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$2830	No Available Data (2019-2020)	31%	73%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

6. Bethel University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$11448	90%	32%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

7. Saint Johns River State College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$2830	No Available Data (2019-2020)	45%	64%	No	Yes	AP Credits

8. Bryan College-Dayton

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$27900	51%	45%	83%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

9. Lackawanna College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$16130	No Available Data (2019-2020)	32%	81%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

10. Wright State University-Lake Campus

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$6072	99%	38%	81%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

11. Peru State College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7704	No Available Data (2019-2020)	34%	97%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

12. Chipola College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$3120	No Available Data (2019-2020)	48%	84%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

13. Philander Smith College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$13014	No Available Data (2019-2020)	44%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

14. Talladega College

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$13846	No Available Data (2019-2020)	34%	61%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE Credits

15. Mid-America Christian University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$18838	No Available Data (2019-2020)	33%	96%	Yes	Yes	AP / ACE / NCCRS Credits

16. Dunwoody College of Technology

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$23096	97%	50%	89%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

17. King University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$30616	62%	59%	92%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

18. Baker University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$29800	88%	64%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

19. California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7396	55%	69%	78%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

20. Cornerstone University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$25360	78%	60%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

21. University of Arkansas-Fort Smith

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$5754	No Available Data (2019-2020)	35%	93%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

22. Park University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$8399	No Available Data (2019-2020)	62%	93%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

23. Belhaven University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$26201	49%	50%	95%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

24. Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9345	No Available Data (2019-2020)	38%	85%	No	Yes	AP Credits

25. University of Wisconsin-Stout

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$9463	91%	60%	83%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

26. SUNY College of Technology at Delhi

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$8560	72%	48%	91%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

27. Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$12620	75%	74%	87%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

28. University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$18879	84%	76%	90%	Yes	Yes	AP Credits

29. Faulkner University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$22310	78%	33%	99%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

30. Reinhardt University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$24300	92%	38%	100%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

31. San Jose State University

Tuition	Acceptance Rate	Graduation Rate	Financial Aid %	Placement Services	Career Services	Accepts
$7852	64%	64%	73%	Yes	Yes	AP / NCCRS Credits

To get a more in-depth look at our school ranking methodology, please visit Study.com's ranking methodology page.

Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Business management is a flexible term and can pan out in many different directions. Most colleges and universities will offer students the chance to choose a particular avenue for further study. Coursework will vary between different concentrations. The following are some of the concentrations commonly offered within business management bachelor's programs.

• Business Analytics: Includes courses geared towards decision-making with data, financial analytic resources, and marketing analytics.
• Entrepreneurship: For those interested in starting their own businesses, with courses dealing with securing financing for new ventures, intellectual property, business scaling, and strategy design.
• Finances: Centered around investment banking, leveraging venture capital for businesses, corporate financial analysis, and real estate, among others.
• Management, Organization, and Leadership: For those interested in developing the necessary skills for leading teams, resolving conflict, negotiating, and designing effective hierarchies.

A bachelor's degree in business management offers a robust groundwork of the fundamentals of leadership and decision-making. The specific courses will vary, reflecting the degree's general direction, be it a B.S. or B.B.A. In many programs, there is special importance placed upon the tools at a professional's disposal, namely software used for decision-making and accounting. Free online courses in management are also available. Common courses include:

• Fundamentals of Micro and Macroeconomics
• Financial Management
• Accounting
• Business and Ethics
• Introduction to Law
• Management and Communication
• Decision-making and Probability
• Conflict Resolution

As with most bachelor's degrees, a degree in business management is designed to last 4 years for full-time students. Many universities encourage students to partake in internships during their studies, either as a guided course or as independent work. This may extend the time taken to graduate depending on whether the course load is adjusted to make room for an internship program. For a more detailed break-down of the length of a business management degree, read the following Study.com article on the subject.

More and more universities are offering online courses that can give students more flexibility to combine work and study. Get a sense of what online courses are typically offered here.

An important factor to consider when choosing a business management school is the type of degree it offers, be it a B.S. or B.B.A. Commonly, a technical school with undergraduate programs focused on engineering or accounting will offer a B.S. Such a school will be able to complement a major in business with a minor in economics or data analysis, for example. If you are interested in a liberal arts school with a strong emphasis on the humanities, consider a B.B.A.

Depending on the chosen minor or electives, a student can tie the coursework of a bachelor's in business management to that of a different sector altogether by, for example, leveraging business courses with health courses to specialize in health sector management. Some of the most common minors combined with a major in business include accounting, economics, entertainment industry, real estate, international relations, etc. It is therefore important to consider what other programs the university can offer in tandem with business management when deciding to apply.

There are a number of international organizations dedicated to maintaining a high standard in business management educations. Chief among them are the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) in the U.S., the Association of MBAs (AMBA), and the EFMD Quality Improvement System. These organizations ensure that schools offer graduating students the best curriculum and therefore the best education possible. Prospective students can look for a bachelor's degree they are interested in within their respective lists to assess the program's quality before applying. After all, accredited universities are expected to continuously update their programs to reflect the changing global landscape, work with top professors, and maintain rigorous testing standards. Furthermore, these accrediting organizations use industry perceptions of graduating students to gauge how competitive an individual university program is worldwide.

Jobseekers do not need a license to find a position in business management once they graduate. However, there are plenty of certifications available for those interested in giving themselves a competitive advantage when applying for work. Certifications can be obtained in a myriad of subjects, ranging from conflict resolution, crisis management, specialized accounting software, and many more.

It is possible to be certified as a management consultant, a highly lucrative profession. The Institute of Management Consultants issues certifications to those looking to give themselves a competitive advantage. As an international organization and a benchmark for excellence within the industry, the IMC certification can vouch for your management skills to potential employers. The Certified Management Consultant (CMC) distinction can be obtained by those with a 4-year college education and proven track record - at least 3 years of work in the industry as a business consultant - after passing an oral examination.

Business management can be applied to a wide range of industries. As markets become more competitive globally, companies of all sizes are looking to improve their functioning and make themselves more competitive and profitable. Business management specialists can offer the expertise needed to do so. Listed below are some examples of how people have put their business management degrees to use.

• Management Consultant
• Operations Specialist
• Human Resources Manager
• Financial Managers
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship Consultants

How to Become a Management Consultant

A management consultant's primary area of interest is in analyzing a particular company's processes and elaborating a plan to make them more efficient. By making a company more efficient, they are reducing costs and thus elevating its profitability. Through an extensive auditing process that involves interviewing employees, studying production and manufacturing pipelines, and dissecting a company's financials, a management consultant offers routes for improvement.

Within the industry, management consultants' employment figures are expected to increase. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that in the coming decade, demand for them will grow 11 percent. As for mean salary projections, the BLS reports that management analysts earn an average of $85,260 a year. It should be noted that that figure varies according to who the consultee is; government consulting pays less than scientific or technical consulting.

Oftentimes, a management consultant will be hired as a contractor, not a full-time employee by a company. Keep in mind that consultancy, lacking the structure of a position within a company's payroll, requires a lot of self-enterprising.

It should be noted that a management consultant is not necessarily a financial consultant, as they require different areas of expertise. Financial consultancy is most often given by those who have further studies in finances and accounting.

How to Become a Business Operation Specialist

A business operation specialist will often work in one of two departments within an organization: operations or human resources. Their work is centered around ensuring the smooth functioning of internal processes. When working in human resources divisions, they specialize in ensuring communication between workers is smooth. Additionally, they oversee the assigning of tasks and compensation for fellow workers. They update and adjust the organizational chart according to the company's evolving needs and capabilities, safeguarding its proper functioning.

The path to becoming a business operation specialist begins with a 4-year bachelor's degree in business, logistics, or communications. For managerial positions, however, most companies expect jobseekers to have completed an M.B.A. or a similar degree.

The BLS expects that between 2019 and 2029, the employment of business operation specialists will increase by 8 percent. That is twice the national average for all professions, currently estimated to be 4 percent during the same time period. This demonstrates that such a position is desirable in a multitude of industries. Furthermore, the mean annual salary is estimated to be $64,560.

For those interested in receiving financial aid to study a business management bachelor's degree, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a useful place to start. By submitting your application and answering the provided questions, you can discover what aid programs are available to you.

Listed below are some prominent scholarships granted by different organizations. It should be noted that this is by no means an exhaustive list. Business management is a desirable position and many organizations are giving out scholarships, so be sure to do more research should you be interested in receiving one.

• WPF Scholarship: The Women in Public Finance organization offers promising, college-bound young women a scholarship to study finance and related majors in the United States. Be sure to review their requirements to ensure you meet them.
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program: A part of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Gates Millennium Scholars Program offers promising minority students the chance to have the cost of their education met. Review the application requirements at the link provided.