If you’ve ever noticed how popular business degrees seem to be, you might be wondering, “Is business administration a good major?”
If you have plans for a career in the business world, a Bachelor of Business Administration could certainly be a strategic degree to pursue. This degree program can prepare you for a variety of jobs in offices, schools, financial institutions, government agencies, healthcare organizations, and other settings.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Companies always need people with business know-how, so getting this degree could potentially set you up for a lifetime of career growth and development.
Is Business Administration a Good Major?
Yes, business administration is a good major for many undergraduate students. Jobs in the management, business, and financial fields are projected to grow at a rate of 5% in the next 10 years (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Common business administration careers in these fields include human resources specialist, management analyst, compensation specialist, sales manager, and accountant. For your business administration major, you’ll take a core set of business classes that will serve as the foundation for your studies.
The concepts that you learn in those core courses may help you become a versatile employee who is able to succeed in a variety of workplaces and positions. As you earn your BBA, you might also be able to select a concentration track.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
The specialized courses that help you earn that concentration as a business major will increase your expertise in one particular area of business administration. That might help you stand out to a hiring committee that is looking for an employee to fill a certain niche.
Choosing to major in business administration may also be an asset if you’re interested in graduate studies. You might be a top candidate for Master of Business Administration programs and for the career advancement that can come with a masters degree.
Business Administration Major Curriculum
As you study for a bachelors degree in business administration, you’ll complete a core set of business courses. The curriculum list may include classes like those listed below.
- Bookkeeping and Accounting
- Business Technology
- Communication Principles for Business Settings
- Concepts in Human Resources
- Fundamentals of Marketing
- International Business
- Introduction to Finance
- Law and Ethics for Business
- Leadership Principles
- Supply Chain and Logistics
In addition to these core general business administration degree courses, you may also take classes that are focused on your area of business specialization. For example, you might take additional classes in human resources, finance, information technology, accounting, management, marketing, or supply chain.
5 Things You Can Do with a Business Administration Degree
Business majors hold many different roles in nearly every sector, from manufacturing to education. Having a career goal, such as one of the top five jobs below, can help you decide which bachelors degree concentration to pursue.
1. Management Analyst
By working as a management analyst, you could help other companies improve their management and operations practices.
Your work might include analyzing company data, speaking to employees, observing practices, drawing up proposals, and presenting suggestions for company improvement. Positions for management analysts, also known as management consultants, are on the rise. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% growth in this field through the next ten years.
2. Financial Examiner
If attention to detail is one of your strengths, then you might consider the role of a financial examiner. You would keep an eye on the strength of financial institutions and whether they are operating properly.
Positions are often available with banks, corporations, and the government. For this career, you may consider choosing accounting or finance for your BBA concentration. After graduation, you could choose to work toward becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
3. Compensation and Benefits Specialist
Good pay and comprehensive benefits often improve employees’ job satisfaction. You can contribute to a company’s recruiting and talent retention by working in a department that oversees pay structures and benefits packages.
Many different sectors need business professionals who are trained in this area, and these jobs are growing at an 8% rate (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Common employers include corporations, insurance companies, government agencies, and healthcare organizations.
4. Market Research Analyst
You can contribute to a company’s marketing department as a market research analyst who studies consumer trends. As an analyst, you might poll potential customers, perform data analyses, propose pricing structures, or monitor competitors’ activities.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 18% job growth for this positions over the next decade. To help you advance to the top of this growing field, you may consider applying for Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) from the Marketing Research Association.
5. Sales Manager
If you have prior retail experience, you might be ready for a sales manager position shortly after earning your BSBA degree. In addition to retail sales jobs, there may also be opportunities for you to work for a company that markets products to other businesses.
Sales management can be a lucrative job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average income for sales managers is over $100,000 per year.
Business Administration Careers
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in business and finance pay an average annual salary of $72,250. Employment opportunities in this sector are expected to grow at a 5% rate through the next decade.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Sales Managers | $132,290 |
| Personal Financial Advisors | $89,330 |
| Management Analysts | $87,660 |
| Financial Examiners | $81,430 |
| Budget Analysts | $78,970 |
| Logisticians | $76,270 |
| Accountants and Auditors | $73,560 |
| Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists | $67,190 |
| Market Research Analysts | $65,810 |
| Human Resources Specialists | $63,490 |
Having a business administration degree might eventually lead to management opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, management jobs are also growing at a 5% rate, and they pay $109,760 per year, on average. Getting a Master of Business Administration may help you secure a management role.
Also, if your plans include earning a doctorate, a part time PhD business degree program might be worth looking into.
How to Know If a Degree in Business Administration Is Right for You
Success in business requires collaboration and communication. If you enjoy working with teams and know how to communicate well with other business professionals, you could be a good candidate for a business degree.
Although some business disciplines require more math than others, you can expect to use mathematical skills during your program. They’ll be useful in classes like financial accounting, statistics, and business math.
Decision-making is another strength that can help you succeed in the business world. Business administration majors often become managers. In that role, they are often called upon to lead teams, spearhead changes, and make difficult decisions.
What Can You Do with a Business Administration Degree?
Business administration offers many exciting opportunities. Finance jobs are often known for their high earning potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, financial analysts earn an average of $83,660 each year.
With certifications like Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), you might become a financial manager, earning an average of $134,180 per year. Sales managers make an average annual salary of $132,290. The highest wages are often found in sales positions in the technical services, financial, and manufacturing industries.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
Management consultants make an average of $87,660 annually. Experience and Certified Management Consultant (CMC) certification can help you qualify for senior consulting roles.
Is Business Administration a Hard Major?
College can be challenging, but certain skills may help you succeed in a general business administration degree program. Some of these skills include leadership, mathematics, creative thinking, and communication. It can also help to be good at interpersonal relationships. Organization and self-discipline can be valuable to your success as well.
It can take work and dedication to earn a business administration degree, but you may be able to earn around $72,250 or more each year with a job in the business industry (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Potential jobs may include accountant, budget analyst, human resources specialist, and supply chain specialist.
How Much Does a Business Administrator Make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that business and finance employees earn an average annual salary of $72,250, and management roles pay an annual average of $109,760.
Administrative services managers, for example, usually earn between $56,080 and $169,930. Holding this type of job in the scientific, financial, or professional services sectors can be particularly lucrative. Personal financial advisors see an average annual income of $89,330, with the top earners having an average salary of more than $208,000.
Starting out in HR, you might earn an average of $37,710 per year. Advance to a management role, though, and you’ll likely see a yearly salary that’s anywhere from $71,180 to $208,000.
What Is the Best Major for Business Administration?
You’ll likely be able to choose a concentration for your business degree. The best one for you as a business major will depend on which aspect of business most interests you. If you like numbers, you may consider finance or accounting. You might be able to pursue work as an auditor, a financial examiner, or a personal financial advisor.
For those who would prefer to help people succeed at work, human resources can be a beneficial choice. Job possibilities might include HR specialist, benefits manager, or training coordinator.
Marketing is a popular concentration for creative thinkers who also enjoy data analytics. With this concentration, you could go into market research or advertising.
With the global aspects of business coming more strongly into focus every year, you may also find that a major like international business is a good option.
What Is the Difference Between a Bachelor of Business Administration vs. Business Management?
You’d be a well-qualified candidate for many different jobs in business with either a bachelors in business administration or a bachelors in business management. These two academic programs typically include similar offerings, but they each approach the topic of business and its various disciplines a little differently.
Business administration focuses on helping companies improve their operations and reach their strategic goals. If you have a dream of someday becoming one of the top executives in an organization, this may be a strategic bachelors program to consider.
Business management addresses leading the individuals and teams who contribute to an organization’s success. There may be more courses devoted to leadership skills and communication in this program.
What Is the Difference Between a BBA vs. BA in Business Administration?
The primary focus of a Bachelor of Business Administration program will be on business and its many subdisciplines.
You can expect to leave school with a broad understanding of finance, marketing, human resources, information technology, logistics, and management. You may also specialize in a particular aspect of this field.
Editorial Listing ShortCode:
A Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration will include more general education and liberal arts classes in the curriculum in addition to the business courses. The classes that you take from the business department may emphasize communication, team dynamics, and management.
Is a Business Administration Degree Worth It?
Yes, a business administration bachelor’s degree is worth it for many students. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting 5% job growth in management, business, and financial occupations over the next 10 years.
Common business administration careers in these fields include administrative services manager, financial examiner, budget analyst, market research analyst, and HR specialist.
The best online business degree programs often offer attractive entry-level salaries, but there’s also a great deal of room for growth as you get promoted to a management position.
Getting Your Degree in Business Administration Online
Business administration is a popular degree choice for college students. Studying business may equip you with an impressive lineup of skills with practical relevance for today’s workforce.
In these business academic programs, you’ll study finance, information technology, human resources, marketing, leadership skills, and other business topics while in school. A BBA may open doors to a wide selection of job opportunities, allowing you to pursue a career as a finance professional, an HR specialist, an advertiser, or a logistician, among others.
You might be able to find work in banks, hospitals, school systems, government agencies, major corporations, or nonprofit organizations. If business administration is the degree for you, then you may start your academic journey by researching online business programs from accredited universities.
