Key takeaways
- A business administration degree is among the top 3 most widely pursued college degrees, with 2.0 million students graduating from a business program in 2022.
- Specializations within a business degree include accounting, finance, human resources, management, entrepreneurship, healthcare management, and more.
- Program requirements for business admin majors include completion of minimum credits in general, major, and elective course categories as well as internships and projects.
- The Lehman College BBA 204 course is an excellent option for students looking for an introductory course to a BBA degree.
- Colleges offering a bachelor’s degree in business administration include Pace University, Lehman College, Lakeland University, Caroll University, and more.
- For an online degree in business administration, students can explore Stanton University, University of Maryland, Upper Iowa University, and more.
- Business administration degree jobs include financial advisor, project management specialist, logistician, property appraiser, and so on.
- Accountants and auditors, financial managers, management analysts, and human resource specialists are among the top employing occupations for business graduates.
A business administration degree is a comprehensive program featuring courses from a broad range of business-related topics, including finance, management, human resources, marketing, and more. Given how broad the field is and the multidisciplinary teachings it imparts, a BBA degree is one of the most commonly pursued college majors globally.
The National Center for Education Statistics reports, that out of the 2.0 million bachelor’s degrees granted, business administration and related programs were among the top 3 in 2021-2022. Whether you are interested in business administration jobs, or looking at college majors leading to versatile career opportunities, a business administration degree is an excellent consideration.
What is a BBA?
BBA is the short form or an acronym for Bachelor of Business Administration, a 4-year college program that prepares students for several job roles within a business organization. Simply put, the business administration degree teaches students the ins and outs of managing an organization’s resources, including its human resources, finances, and time. /
Contrary to what the name indicates, the career opportunities are not limited to administrative roles. Students undertake a variety of courses to build professional competencies in essential business fields such as finance, accounting, marketing, management, and more. In fact, students can choose to specialize in a particular area such as human resources, organizational leaders, healthcare, and more.
Available specializations in a business administration degree
A business administration degree can open several career opportunities for graduates. However, given that it is a flexible program focusing on developing broadly applicable competencies, pursuing a specialization gives graduates a competitive edge in the job market by enabling them to build expertise in a particular niche.
Here are 10 business admin major specializations students can pursue to boost career opportunities.
BBA in Accounting
An accounting specialization prepares students for careers in accounting. Accounting professionals keep track of a company’s money. They generate statements such as payroll, financial, and cash flow statements. Additionally, they file tax returns and maintain detailed records of a company’s financial transactions.
BBA in Business Management
Through the management specialization, students learn essential business management principles and their practical applications in real-world scenarios through stimulated classroom environments, and case studies. Some skills learned include staff training, management, handling customer complaints, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
BBA in Marketing
A marketing specialization teaches students how to build a bridge between the business and its consumers. They develop a broad range of skills essential for a career in marketing, including brand management, advertising, product pricing, communication, and more. Additionally, they develop expertise in product pricing, market supply-demand protocols, profit maximization, and more.
BBA in Entrepreneurship
The entrepreneurship specialization is ideal for aspiring entrepreneurs. Here students build competencies enabling them to launch and scale a new business venture. These include management, marketing, leadership, financial planning and management, organizational strategies, business ethics, business law, and more.
Entrepreneurship, as a field of study, is quite vast. The entrepreneurially minded can explore a bachelor’s degree in entrepreneurship for a more focused line of study.
International Business
Whether you aspire to join multinational companies or hope to explore career opportunities across international borders, an international business specialization is ideal for you. Through the specialization, students learn international finance and trade policies, international markets, international marketing, and more.
Graduates of the international business specialization will be able to curate efficient management practices in international organizations to ensure operational efficiency on a global scale.
Healthcare Administration
Healthcare administration is essentially hospital management. Students enrolled in the specialization learn how to ensure the administration of efficient patient care by ensuring the smooth running of healthcare systems, compliance with safety protocols, health standards, and patient care best practices. They are also responsible for the management of the healthcare system or organization’s resources to ensure financial profitability.
Human resource management
A specialization in human resources can prepare graduates for careers in human resource management. Every organization needs qualified human resource professionals who are in charge of hiring, training, and managing a company’s employees. Conflict resolution, building employee relations, performance reviews, and building morale, are just some of the skills students learn in the specialization.
Operations Management
The operations management specialization teaches students a variety of skills, processes, and techniques required to ensure smooth and profitable business operations. Through the curriculum, students learn profit maximization through cost control, supply chain management and optimization, staff management, budgeting, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Project Management
The project management specialization teaches students how to organize, plan, oversee, and direct a plan from its initiation to completion. Here, students learn project budgeting, scheduling, progress tracking, coordination, risk management, and other relevant skills. Most importantly, project management students learn to collaborate and communicate with stakeholders at different project stages until its completion.
Finance
While the accounting specialization teaches students how to track and record a company’s finances efficiently, the finance specialization teaches students how to handle a company’s finances. Here students develop competencies in different areas such as investment planning, financial analysis, capital planning, and more.
They learn to apply a variety of accounting and financing principles to real-world scenarios to obtain maximum profitability and strengthen an organization’s financial portfolio enhancing their ability to weather periods of economic turmoil.
Business Analytics
In the tech-driven economy that we know today, data analytics has emerged as a highly sought-after field. The specialization, business analytics, prepares students for a financially rewarding career using data to drive decision-making in the business field. Through the specialization, students learn quantitative modeling, data analysis, data visualization, and more.
Typical program curriculum of a business administration degree
A BBA is a four-year program during which students will undertake a variety of general, core, and elective courses. The choice of electives and the exact list of courses varies by college and a student’s choice of specialization.
Generally, students must complete 120 to 130 credit hours through a combination of general, core, and elective courses. The exact course type and required credit division are different for each program, and each university. The University of Maryland has the following program requirements for completion of a business administration degree:
- General courses – 41 credit hours
- Major or core courses – 33 credit hours
- Minor and elective courses – 46 credit hours
Business admin major courses examples are as follows:
- Introduction to Business and Management
- Principles of Accounting I and II
- Marketing Principles
- Management Organization and Theory
- Organizational Leadership
- Business Law I
- Strategic Management
- Human Resource Management
- Business Ethics
General education courses can include the following:
- Principles of Microeconomics
- Principles of Macroeconomics
- Introduction to Statistics
- Information Systems in Organizations
Students may also be required to complete capstone projects, or other requirements to fulfill a program’s graduation requirement. These too vary by institute and program so make sure to thoroughly read through the listed program requirements before enrolling in one.
Types of business administration degree
Students can pursue a business administration degree at varying levels, namely associate, bachelor’s, master’s, executive MBA, and doctorate. The ideal starting point for a career in the field is a BBA degree. However, students unable to commit to a 4-year program can explore an associate program, which spans two years.
An associate degree in business administration focuses on the fundamentals of business strategy and operation. It can greatly enhance your career opportunities, making graduates eligible for a variety of entry-level roles in organizations. Graduates can also transfer the credits earned from their associate program to a bachelor’s program for accelerated completion of a BBA degree, which further enhances one’s career prospects.
Students can also pursue business administration at the master’s or even a doctorate level. According to a report by BLS, 26% of employed professionals in the business field have an advanced degree either a master’s or a doctorate.
BSBA Vs BBA degree
Both degrees, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) prepare students for a career in the business field. However, a BSBA degree is quite different from a BBA degree in terms of its curriculum.
While a BBA degree focuses on business fundamentals, a BSBA degree features Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics courses. Resultantly, the BSBA program takes a more technical and analytical approach to business administration, equipping students with the skills and knowledge to drive data-backed decision-making and enhance operational efficiencies.
In comparison, a BBA takes a general approach to business fundamentals such as accounting, finance, marketing, management, and so on. Students enrolled in a BBA degree develop a wide range of competencies allowing them to pursue a variety of career opportunities. These range from general administrative roles to specialized technical roles depending on the student’s specialization.
Choosing between full-time, part-time, or an online BBA degree
Choosing the right BBA program can prove to be quite challenging. While a BBA degree offers a greater level of flexibility and features a somewhat customizable learning curriculum, it puts a lot of emphasis on a student’s decision-making ability to choose the right specialization, the right courses, and even the right mode of delivery.
Students can pursue a BBA degree, either full-time, part-time, or online. Enrolling in a full-time program means students will commit the majority of their daily time to their studies taking at least 4 courses per semester.
A part-time program allows students a bit more flexibility requiring them to take up to 3 courses per semester. With the free time they have left behind, they can choose to pursue part-time employment juicing up their resume.
Students looking for the best of both worlds can choose an online business administration degree. Provided the program they enroll in is asynchronous, they can pursue a full-time job with their bachelor’s program taking their classes collectively over the weekend or at one by one anytime throughout the day.
The best way to move forward with this decision would be to seek expert degree advice from your college or high school counselor. The key here is to remember your career aspirations and to make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Colleges offering a business administration degree
Ready to enroll in a bachelor’s degree in business administration? Here are some colleges you can explore. Among the list is Lehman College. Lehman College’s BBA 204 course, Principles of Management, is an excellent course renowned for the amazing learning value it offers.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Saint Martin’s University | 95% | 67% | $42,220 |
| Millennia Atlantic University | 100% | 70% | $12,202 |
| Caroll University | 72% | 70% | $36,190 |
| Lakeland University | 100% | 50% | $31,786 |
| University of Southern Indiana | 94% | 53% | $10,210 in-state
$22,255 out-of-state |
| Pace University | 83% | 58% | $50,026 |
| Lehman College | 55.3% | 63.7% | $7,410 in-state
$15,360 out-of-state |
Colleges offering an online business administration degree
For those interested in pursuing an online business administration degree, the following colleges offer excellent distance-learning programs they can explore.
| College | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Stanton University | Not available | 83% | $13,320 |
| University of Maryland | 45% | 86% | $11,233 in-state
$39,469 out-of-state |
| Upper Iowa University | 54% | 42% | $33,639 |
| Eastern Kentucky University | 64% | 44% | $9,844 in-state
$20,222 out-of-state |
8 business administration degree jobs graduates can explore
Business administration job prospects should be one of the main considerations when deciding whether to join a business administration degree or not. Here are a few of the potential opportunities graduates can explore as well as their average pay. Do keep in mind that the salary range for entry-level positions is available to fresh graduates with little experience.
| Job title | Average salary | Job growth rate |
| Management Analysts | $99,410/yr | 11% |
| Project Management Specialists | $98,580/yr | 7% |
| Logistician | $79,400/yr | 19% |
| Financial Advisor | $99,580/yr | 17% |
| Tax Examiners and Collectors | $58,530/yr | 2% |
| Property Appraisers | $61,630/yr | 4% |
| Event Planners | $56,920/yr | 7% |
| Compliance Officers | $75,670/yr | 5% |
As evident from the list, graduates with a bachelor’s degree in business administration open career opportunities in diverse fields such as real estate, healthcare, sales, finance, project management, data analytics, marketing, and so on. Graduates can even pursue entrepreneurship and launch their own ventures.
With the diversified skill set one develops in a business admin major, there really is no end to the opportunities graduates can explore, be it business administration jobs, or jobs in a management or administrative capacity.
Industry trends and job market overview
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 54% of all employed professionals in the business field hold at least a bachelor’s degree. 26% of employed professionals hold a master’s or a PhD. The majority of employed business admin major graduates. 88% to be exact, specialized in the following fields:
- Business Management and Administration – 28%
- General Business – 20%
- Accounting – 17%
- Marketing and Marketing Research – 12%
- Finance – 11%
- Other – 12%
Here are the top occupations employing Bachelor of Business Administration graduates in entry-level positions.
| Occupation | Projected job growth |
| Financial Managers | 17% |
| Management Analysts | 11% |
| Human Resource Specialists | 8% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 6% |
| General and Operations Managers | 6% |
Hiring trends as listed by Statista also indicate graduates with a bachelor’s degree, industry experience, or an MBA degree were the highest in demand by employers. The following is a list of the percentage of business graduates’, specifically MBA graduates, employers hired in 2023 sorted by business area as reported by Statista:
- Strategy and innovation – 47%
- Consulting – 45%
- Marketing – 44%
- General Management – 42%
- Communications – 41%
- Project Management – 40%
- Business development/sales – 40%
- Operations/ logistics/ supply chain management -39%
- Customer /client relationship and management – 38%
- Human resource and organizational management – 37%
- Product management – 37%
- Market research – 36%
- Business intelligence/analysis – 34%
- Accounting – 34%
- Finance – 32%
- Research and development – 32%
- Information technology/ MIS – 30%
- Data Science – 26%
- Budget Analyst – 23%
Frequently asked questions about business administration degrees
Even though a business administration degree is quite popular, it is only natural to have certain doubts about the program. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the program and their answers.
What is the difference between business management and administration degrees?
At first glance, the two programs may seem strikingly similar. In fact, some colleges and universities do offer a combined business management and administration program. However, a closer look at the learning outcomes of the program, and the curriculum indicates a clear difference between the two.
A business administration program, as indicated above focuses on building a comprehensive set of competencies across different aspects of a business. Graduates learn essential competencies required to ensure smooth business operations. BBA degree graduates are well-equipped to handle and oversee the day-to-day business operations at the micro-level.
A business management degree features a leadership and management-centric approach. Students learn management and leadership principles at the macro level. They learn how to lead the organization as a whole. They learn to direct a company’s vision and set the goals that business administration graduates learn to work towards.
While business administration degrees are more technical, management degrees take a more humanitarian approach. They focus on building people skills, such as communication, human resource management, and so on.
What is a degree to work for in business/public administration?
Most employers seek graduates with either a degree in business administration or a public administration degree for jobs in business/public administration. The preferred level of qualification is a master’s or at least a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree without much industry experience qualifies job applicants for entry-level positions. However, those with a few years of work experience can apply for mid-level positions as well.
What skills does a business administration degree teach you?
A business administration degree is a multidisciplinary program that teaches a variety of professional and technical skills. These include:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Analytical
- Problem-solving
- Research
- Marketing
- Finance
- Accounting
- Project management
The exact skill set a graduate develops depends largely on the concentration area they choose to pursue. Some available specializations include human resource management, entrepreneurship, project management, accounting, and so on.
What can you do with a business administration degree?
A BBA degree opens many career opportunities with graduates qualifying for jobs in several occupations. Top occupations with business administration degree jobs include finance, accounting, project management, general management, supply chain, logistics, and so much more.
With a bachelor’s degree in business administration, graduates can apply for job roles such as financial analyst, financial advisor, accountant, auditor, tax counselor, project manager, property appraiser, and so on.
What is a business administration degree?
A business administration degree is a comprehensive program that provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully operate a business. The program curriculum features a diverse range of courses relating to different business areas. Students not only learn theoretical concepts, policies, and best practices, but also their real-life applications through projects, case studies, and simulated learning environments.
What can I do with a business administration degree?
A business administration degree prepares graduates for successful careers in fields such as human resources, finance, accounting, marketing, research, management, and so on. The exact job opportunities available depend upon a student’s choice of electives that they must choose based on their career aspirations.
Students can also pursue an entrepreneurship specialization, which can prepare them for a successful entrepreneurial career and make them eligible for many managerial-level positions.
Is BBA 4 years now?
Yes, a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) is a four-year program. Whether you choose a BBA program or a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA), the program spans over 4 years. During the program, students must complete 120 to 130 credit hours, and fulfill other graduation requirements such as internships, and capstone projects, maintenance of a minimum GPA, and more to graduate.
Is a BBA degree worth it?
Yes! A significant number of employed professionals in an organization hold a business administration degree. Business graduates are eligible for a variety of job opportunities across various business areas. Many of these occupations have a higher than the national average occupation job growth rate.
What are you waiting for? Start your college application for a business administration degree today!
With career prospects as bright as those offered by a business administration degree, there is no need to second-guess a business admin major. With a BBA degree, graduates can apply for various business administration jobs, as well as jobs in other fields such as real estate, finance, accounting, and more.
All Bachelor Degrees offer several resources that can help you choose not only the right program, but find the ideal college, and complete your college application process. Here, students can access some of the best college application tools and resources.