by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2,463 U.S. colleges awarded 421,752 degrees and certificates in Business Administration & Management. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 42% of graduates. College Factual ranks 2,077 schools in its 2027 Best Business Administration & Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
Are you a leader? Do you enjoy working with people and problem solving? If you answered yes to both of these questions a degree in Business Administration & Management would be great fit for you. A program in Business Administration & Management teaches you how to organize, plan, direct, and control the functions and process of an organization or firm. In addition to learning these functions, you will be taking classes in Purchasing and Logistics, Marketing, Business Decision-making, Accounting, Human Resources, Management, and Organization and Production.
There are many different concentrations within this major. They include Research and Development Management, Project Management, Customer Service Management, Office Management and Supervision, Purchasing Management, Project Management, and Organizational Leadership. This major is commonly offered as a Bachelor's Degree.
Studying Business Administration & Management involves the study of Business Administration, Management And Operations.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, business administration & management is a popular field of study, with 421,752 degrees awarded annually. 2,463 colleges award business administration & management degrees, an average of 171 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 14,041.
By level, the 421,752 awards include 6,645 certificates, 65,693 associate degrees, 168,724 bachelor’s degrees, 175,559 master’s degrees and 4,036 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of business administration & management degrees and certificates in the latest year (211,287 of 421,752). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (185,149) and Hispanic or Latino (80,134), and international students earned 22,783.
College Factual ranks 2,077 schools in its 2027 Best Business Administration & Management Schools ranking, including 746 for associate degrees, 1,276 for bachelor’s degrees, 957 for master’s degrees and 89 for doctorates. It also ranks business administration & management schools within 54 states. In all, 2,463 colleges offer business administration & management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value Business Administration & Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common business administration & management credential is the master’s degree: 175,559 of the 421,752 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to business administration & management call most for Speaking, Active Listening and Reading Comprehension, and for knowledge of Administration and Management, English Language and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Leadership skills are important when working in the field of business. The majority of careers will require you to effectively organize and oversee others. Problem-solving and solid communication will help you succeed. There is an emphasis on group work, therefore being able to manage time and work well with others is necessary.
Students should have some interest in math, as you will be taking a lot of mathematical courses. This program is not only offered as a Bachelor's Degree, but students can continue onto higher education and receive a Master's or Doctorate in this major.
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How long a business administration & management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 6,645 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 65,693 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 168,724 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 175,559 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4,036 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to business administration & management, at 48.5%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 48.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 10.7% |
| Master’s degree | 10.6% |
| Some college courses | 8.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 8.5% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 2.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.4% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 1.0% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.6% |
| First professional degree | 0.2% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to Business Administration & Management, with an average median salary of $102,650; the strongest outlook belongs to Sustainability Specialists, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Call Center Supervisor, Call Center Manager, Business Manager and Food Checkers and Cashiers Supervisor.
A graduate with a degree in this major could enter into many different fields. The majority of these careers are in a management role; therefore you will be leading groups of people to meet a common goal. You have the opportunity to become a Financial Manager, Human Resources Manager, Medical and Health Service Manager, or an Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations Manager. If you do not wish to become a manager, there are opportunities to become a Top Executive of a company, or an Education Administrator.
The occupation related to business administration & management with the most projected jobs is First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers, at 1,904,234.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | 1,904,234 | -0.4% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | 877,525 | -2.0% |
| First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers | 830,802 | 5.3% |
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Logistics Analysts | 688,094 | 1.5% |
| Logistics Engineers | 687,152 | 13.4% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
Business Administration & Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to business administration & management is Loss Prevention Managers, with a median salary of $165,723.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Supply Chain Managers | $138,103 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $129,557 |
| Security Management Specialists | $128,654 |
Business Administration & Management includes 16 concentrations that together award 421,752 degrees a year; by graduates, the largest are Business Administration and Management, General (352,768), Organizational Leadership (16,833) and Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704). It has 21 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 462,397 degrees a year; the largest are Accounting and Related Services (86,793), Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (68,298) and Business/Commerce, General (61,663). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 86,793 |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 68,298 |
| Business/Commerce, General | 61,663 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 60,422 |
| Marketing | 56,635 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 27,822 |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 15,088 |
| Business Operations Support and Assistant Services | 14,895 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 13,200 |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 12,764 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
