Business Administration: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries
Program Overview
Business Administration offers a comprehensive foundation in the core principles that drive organizational success across diverse sectors. This program equips learners with strategic insight into how enterprises operate, manage resources, and achieve objectives in both for-profit and nonprofit environments.
- Business Organization and Structure: Explores the design, management, and operational frameworks of companies, including hierarchy, departmental functions, and decision-making processes.
- Accounting and Financial Management: Focuses on recording, analyzing, and interpreting financial data to support budgeting, planning, and performance evaluation.
- Marketing and Consumer Behavior: Investigates strategies for identifying customer needs, developing products, and promoting services effectively in competitive markets.
- Operations and Supply Chain Management: Examines the systems and processes involved in producing and delivering goods and services efficiently and sustainably.
- Leadership and Strategic Decision-Making: Develops skills in guiding teams, managing change, and formulating long-term plans aligned with organizational goals.
- Business Ethics and Corporate Responsibility: Addresses moral principles and societal expectations in business conduct, including transparency, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement.
Business Administration Graduate Trends (2010-2024)
Business Administration Career Pathways & Salary Outlook
The following table presents salary data for occupations typically aligned with Business Administration degrees, including Chief Executives, Sales Managers and Managers, All Other. These career paths represent common employment outcomes but are not guaranteed for all graduates. Salary ranges vary by location, employer, experience level, and specific role requirements. Nationally, these occupations employ approximately 8,665,950 professionals.
National Average Salaries
| Occupation | Median Salary | Salary Range | Total Employment | Hourly Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives 11-1011 | $206,420 | $73,710 - $239,200 | 211,850 | $99.24 |
| Sales Managers 11-2022 | $138,060 | $66,910 - $239,200 | 603,710 | $66.38 |
| Managers, All Other 11-9199 | $136,550 | $68,860 - $227,590 | 630,980 | $65.65 |
| Industrial Production Managers 11-3051 | $121,440 | $74,900 - $197,310 | 234,380 | $58.39 |
| Administrative Services Managers 11-3012 | $108,390 | $64,740 - $200,010 | 254,140 | $52.11 |
| Construction Managers 11-9021 | $106,980 | $65,160 - $176,990 | 348,330 | $51.43 |
| Facilities Managers 11-3013 | $104,690 | $62,550 - $173,080 | 141,090 | $50.33 |
| General and Operations Managers 11-1021 | $102,950 | $47,420 - $239,200 | 3,584,420 | $49.50 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers 11-3071 | $102,010 | $61,200 - $180,590 | 213,000 | $49.05 |
| Management Analysts 13-1111 | $101,190 | $59,720 - $174,140 | 893,900 | $48.65 |
| Project Management Specialists 13-1082 | $100,750 | $59,830 - $165,790 | 1,006,160 | $48.44 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary 25-1011 | $97,270 | $46,460 - $210,530 | 81,780 | N/A |
| Social and Community Service Managers 11-9151 | $78,240 | $50,020 - $129,820 | 195,490 | $37.61 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling 11-9072 | $77,180 | $45,320 - $134,680 | 36,700 | $37.11 |
| Cost Estimators 13-1051 | $77,070 | $46,330 - $128,640 | 219,530 | $37.05 |
| Personal Service Managers, All Other 11-9179 | $61,340 | $36,880 - $111,130 | 10,490 | $29.49 |
Business Administration Salary Map by State
Geographic location significantly impacts earning potential for these careers. Average salaries range from $84,221 in Mississippi to $137,250 in District of Columbia—a 63% difference. The highest-paying states include District of Columbia, Delaware, and Washington. Nationwide, these occupations employ over 8,665,950 professionals across all states. Explore the interactive map below to compare regional compensation and identify optimal markets for your career goals.
Average Salary Range:
Top Universities for Business Administration by Graduate Enrollment
Below are the top 97 institutions offering Business Administration programs for the 2023-2024 academic year (the most recent data reported as of 2025), ranked by the number of graduates. The highest graduate enrollment in Business Administration is found at Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (3,530 graduates), DeVry University, Illinois (1,275 graduates), Northeastern University (NU) (1,146 graduates), University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia (1,026 graduates), and George Mason University (1,005 graduates). Combined, these colleges produced 35,064 graduates across all degree levels. Program availability varies by award level, including Associate, Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees at participating universities and schools.
| College Name | Award Levels | Graduates | Location | Control | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indiana University (IUB) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
3,530 | Bloomington, Indiana | Public | indiana.edu |
| DeVry University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
1,275 | Lisle, Illinois | Private | devry.edu |
| Northeastern University (NU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
1,146 | Boston, Massachusetts | Private | northeastern.edu |
| University of Missouri (Mizzou) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
1,026 | Columbia, Missouri | Public | missouri.edu |
| George Mason University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
1,005 | Fairfax, Virginia | Public | www2.gmu.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
886 | Washington, District of Columbia | Private | strayer.edu |
| University of Central Florida (UCF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
806 | Orlando, Florida | Public | ucf.edu |
| San Jacinto Community College |
Associate's
|
781 | Pasadena, Texas | Public | sanjac.edu |
| Lone Star College System (LSC) |
Associate's
|
757 | The Woodlands, Texas | Public | lonestar.edu |
| Indiana University (IU Indianapolis) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
639 | Indianapolis, Indiana | Public | indianapolis.iu.edu |
| University of Oregon (UO) |
Bachelor's
|
605 | Eugene, Oregon | Public | uoregon.edu |
| American Public University System (APUS) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
586 | Charles Town, West Virginia | Private | apus.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
552 | Chamblee, Georgia | Private | strayer.edu |
| University of Kentucky (UK) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
548 | Lexington, Kentucky | Public | uky.edu |
| Mesa Community College (MCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
500 | Mesa, Arizona | Public | mesacc.edu |
| Northern Kentucky University (NKU) |
Master's
|
453 | Highland Heights, Kentucky | Public | nku.edu |
| Cuesta College |
Other Award
|
428 | San Luis Obispo, California | Public | cuesta.edu |
| University of Missouri-St Louis (UMSL) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
410 | Saint Louis, Missouri | Public | umsl.edu |
| Montgomery College (MC) |
Associate's
|
387 | Rockville, Maryland | Public | montgomerycollege.edu |
| University of Wisconsin |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
385 | Whitewater, Wisconsin | Public | uww.edu |
| University of Louisville (UofL) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
373 | Louisville, Kentucky | Public | louisville.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
367 | Arlington, Virginia | Private | strayer.edu |
| Montana State University (MSU) |
Bachelor's
|
366 | Bozeman, Montana | Public | montana.edu |
| Chandler-Gilbert Community College (CGCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
362 | Chandler, Arizona | Public | cgc.maricopa.edu |
| Empire State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
358 | Saratoga Springs, New York | Public | sunyempire.edu |
| Campbellsville University (CU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
355 | Campbellsville, Kentucky | Private | campbellsville.edu |
| Columbia College |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
355 | Columbia, Missouri | Private | ccis.edu |
| University of South Florida (USF) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
349 | Tampa, Florida | Public | usf.edu |
| Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) |
Certificate (≥2 yrs)
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
346 | Richmond, Virginia | Public | vcu.edu |
| Central State University (CSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
332 | Wilberforce, Ohio | Public | centralstate.edu |
| Boise State University (BBU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
327 | Boise, Idaho | Public | boisestate.edu |
| Austin Community College District (ACC) |
Associate's
|
313 | Austin, Texas | Public | austincc.edu |
| Ball State University (BSU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
302 | Muncie, Indiana | Public | bsu.edu |
| South Texas College (STC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
300 | McAllen, Texas | Public | southtexascollege.edu |
| Florida State University (FSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
287 | Tallahassee, Florida | Public | fsu.edu |
| University of Kansas (KU) |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
285 | Lawrence, Kansas | Public | ku.edu |
| College of Staten Island CUNY (CSI) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
282 | Staten Island, New York | Public | csi.cuny.edu |
| Texas Tech University (TTU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
281 | Lubbock, Texas | Public | ttu.edu |
| Gonzaga University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
281 | Spokane, Washington | Private | gonzaga.edu |
| Pennsylvania State University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
|
281 | University Park, Pennsylvania | Public | worldcampus.psu.edu |
| Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) |
Bachelor's
|
278 | Lawrenceville, Georgia | Public | ggc.edu |
| Georgia State University |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
276 | Atlanta, Georgia | Public | gsu.edu |
| Lindenwood University |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
276 | Saint Charles, Missouri | Private | lindenwood.edu |
| The University of Alabama (UA) |
Bachelor's
|
275 | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | Public | ua.edu |
| Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
267 | Salt Lake City, Utah | Public | slcc.edu |
| University of Denver (DU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
252 | Denver, Colorado | Private | du.edu |
| Sam Houston State University (SHSU) |
Bachelor's
|
252 | Huntsville, Texas | Public | shsu.edu |
| Marshall University |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
251 | Huntington, West Virginia | Public | marshall.edu |
| Purdue University Global |
Associate's
|
250 | West Lafayette, Indiana | Public | purdueglobal.edu |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
Other Award
|
247 | Madison, Wisconsin | Public | wisc.edu |
| Post University |
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
241 | Waterbury, Connecticut | Private | post.edu |
| West Virginia University (WVU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
236 | Morgantown, West Virginia | Public | wvu.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
236 | Suitland, Maryland | Private | strayer.edu |
| Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Other Award
|
234 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Public | pfw.edu |
| Strayer University (SU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
233 | Farmers Branch, Texas | Private | strayer.edu |
| Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
231 | Conway, South Carolina | Public | hgtc.edu |
| University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) |
Bachelor's
|
227 | University, Mississippi | Public | olemiss.edu |
| University of Missouri (UMKC) |
Bachelor's
|
225 | Kansas City, Missouri | Public | umkc.edu |
| Collin County Community College District (CCCCD) |
Associate's
|
220 | McKinney, Texas | Public | collin.edu |
| Dallas College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
216 | Dallas, Texas | Public | dallascollege.edu |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) |
Associate's
|
211 | Perkinston, Mississippi | Public | mgccc.edu |
| University of the Cumberlands |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
209 | Williamsburg, Kentucky | Private | ucumberlands.edu |
| Tarleton State University (TSU) |
Bachelor's
|
202 | Stephenville, Texas | Public | tarleton.edu |
| University of North Texas (UNT) |
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctorate (Research)
|
201 | Denton, Texas | Public | unt.edu |
| Youngstown State University (YSU) |
Associate's
Master's
|
198 | Youngstown, Ohio | Public | ysu.edu |
| San Joaquin Delta College |
Associate's
Other Award
|
195 | Stockton, California | Public | deltacollege.edu |
| Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) |
Associate's
|
195 | Blue Bell, Pennsylvania | Public | mc3.edu |
| SOWELA Technical Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Residency
Other Award
|
189 | Lake Charles, Louisiana | Public | sowela.edu |
| University of Nevada (UNR) |
Bachelor's
|
185 | Reno, Nevada | Public | unr.edu |
| Citadel Military College of South Carolina |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
183 | Charleston, South Carolina | Public | citadel.edu |
| University of Houston (UHD) |
Bachelor's
|
183 | Houston, Texas | Public | uhd.edu |
| Blinn College District |
Associate's
|
181 | Brenham, Texas | Public | blinn.edu |
| Macomb Community College |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
180 | Warren, Michigan | Public | macomb.edu |
| Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) |
Associate's
|
179 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | ccp.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
179 | Trevose, Pennsylvania | Private | strayer.edu |
| Indiana Institute of Technology (Indiana Tech) |
Master's
|
177 | Fort Wayne, Indiana | Private | indianatech.edu |
| Murray State University (MSU) |
Associate's
Bachelor's
Master's
|
175 | Murray, Kentucky | Public | murraystate.edu |
| Long Beach City College (LBCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
170 | Long Beach, California | Public | lbcc.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSB) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
166 | South Bend, Indiana | Public | iusb.edu |
| Temple University |
Bachelor's
|
166 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Public | temple.edu |
| Strayer University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
165 | Memphis, Tennessee | Private | strayer.edu |
| Indiana University (IUSE) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
161 | New Albany, Indiana | Public | ius.edu |
| Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC) |
Associate's
|
161 | Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | Public | occc.edu |
| Raritan Valley Community College (RVCC) |
Associate's
|
157 | Branchburg, New Jersey | Public | raritanval.edu |
| Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) |
Bachelor's
Other Award
|
156 | Joplin, Missouri | Public | mssu.edu |
| Wharton County Junior College (WCJC) |
Associate's
|
156 | Wharton, Texas | Public | wcjc.edu |
| Glendale Community College (GCC) |
Certificate (1-2 yrs)
Associate's
Other Award
|
155 | Glendale, Arizona | Public | gccaz.edu |
| Shasta College |
Associate's
|
151 | Redding, California | Public | shastacollege.edu |
| Liberty University |
Associate's
Bachelor's
|
150 | Lynchburg, Virginia | Private | liberty.edu |
| Saint Mary's College of California |
Bachelor's
Doctorate (Research)
|
148 | Moraga, California | Private | stmarys-ca.edu |
| Saint Joseph's University (SJU) |
Master's
|
146 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Private | sju.edu |
| Front Range Community College (FRCC) |
Associate's
Other Award
|
145 | Westminster, Colorado | Public | frontrange.edu |
| Georgia Military College (GMC) |
Associate's
|
145 | Milledgeville, Georgia | Public | gmc.edu |
| Grand Valley State University (GVSU) |
Bachelor's
Master's
|
143 | Allendale, Michigan | Public | gvsu.edu |
| Indiana Wesleyan University |
Associate's
Other Award
|
141 | Marion, Indiana | Private | indwes.edu |
| Colorado Technical University (CTU) |
Bachelor's
|
140 | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Private | coloradotech.edu |
| Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) |
Bachelor's
Postbac Cert.
Master's
|
136 | Richmond, Kentucky | Public | eku.edu |
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the most common questions about Business Administration programs
How much can I earn with a Business Administration degree?
Salaries for Business Administration graduates vary by role and location. Chief Executives earn a median of $206,420 annually, while Sales Managers earn around $138,060. Geographic location significantly impacts earnings—professionals in District of Columbia average $137,250 compared to $84,221 in Mississippi. Approximately 8,665,950 professionals work in related occupations nationwide.
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS program, May 2024. Earnings vary by experience, employer, and market conditions.
Which universities have the largest Business Administration programs?
Currently 815 accredited institutions offer Business Administration degrees across the U.S. Programs with the highest enrollment include Indiana University (IUB), Bloomington (3,530 graduates), DeVry University, Illinois (1,275 graduates), and Northeastern University (NU) (1,146 graduates).
Program size doesn't necessarily indicate quality—consider factors like faculty expertise, production opportunities, location, and available degree levels when choosing a school.
Data based on IPEDS program completions for 2023-2024 academic year. Numbers reflect programs where students graduated.
Is enrollment in Business Administration growing or declining?
Graduate numbers have increased over the past decade, rising from 55,967 in 2010 to 57,976 in 2023-24. This represents a 4% increase overall from 2010.
The field remains specialized with steady interest, though opportunities are most concentrated in major metropolitan areas with active arts scenes like New York, California, and Illinois.
Graduate enrollment data from IPEDS, 2010-2024 academic years. Trends reflect reported completions at participating institutions.
What career paths are available with a Business Administration degree?
This degree prepares you for roles such as Chief Executives, Sales Managers, and Managers, All Other. Related occupations employ approximately 8,665,950 professionals nationwide.
Skills in project management, creative leadership, and collaboration also transfer to event planning, arts administration, marketing, and corporate training roles. Many professionals work freelance or on a project basis across theatre, film, and live events.
Career pathways mapped using CIP-SOC crosswalk from the National Center for Education Statistics. Employment data from BLS OEWS May 2024.
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