Online Bachelor's Degree in Business Management (BSBM) - Best of 2024

Updated on April 25, 2024

University HQ is an industry-leading, independent educational organization that provides independent college rankings using a proprietary formula to create first class unbiased rankings. The team at University Headquarters strives to provide accurate and trustworthy rankings that highlights the best programs for a bachelors in business management.

Get Matched With Business Management Programs

An online or on-campus bachelor’s is the entry-level degree for most business management or administration positions and, while some companies require a master’s for higher-level management positions, there are plenty of positions available for those with a bachelor's business management degree. With a bachelor’s degree, you will have the opportunity to work your way up in a company through experience alone, or to earn a higher-level award while still earning your paycheck. Taking online courses in a business management program while working means that your master’s may take you longer to achieve, but you might find that your current employer is willing to cover some, or all, of the cost in order to have a more qualified employee, whether you attend a business administration or business management program online or on-campus at the local state university. Even if you don’t earn your master’s, the experience you accrue will help you continue to move up and earn higher pay. You can do this within the same company or continue looking through the new and exciting variety of business managers roles all over the country.

The skills business management students will learn in a bachelor's in business management program will span everything they need to know to help run a company or organization including general business management skills, confident decision making, professional communication skills, an overview of marketing, accounting, economics, human resources, international business, organizational behavior, statistics, and more.

PROS

A four-year online bachelor's degree in business management will qualify you for entry-level business management positions as opposed to you working your way up the chain of employment. Most employers looking to fill management positions require this type of business degree as a minimum, though you could earn your bachelor's in project management, human resources or human resource management, international business, supply chain management, operations management, or other business programs.
Your salary will average $8,000 more per year than that of graduates with an associate's in business management; experience in business management will add to your expected compensation.
You will have more job options available in comparison to those with an online associate degree, or no higher education, as you will qualify for many more positions within the field.
An online business management bachelor's degree program's credits will easily transfer to another career field such as administration.

CONS

This degree will take an average of four years to complete if you attend a college or state university full-time, whether it is online or not, so it will take you longer to enter the workforce. Employers also prefer to hire those with experience in the field, whether that's in marketing, accounting, or some other work they have as business professionals.
Upper management or positions as leaders typically require a master's degree or other advanced education, so if you wish to enter top management, you'll need to continue your education. You may need to find employment and work on your graduate degree part time to comply with the needs of your employer.
Your employer may require specific certifications or specialized knowledge not covered by your undergraduate degree, meaning your employment may be contingent on completing specialized training in a timely manner.

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Top 25 Best Online Bachelor's in Business Management Programs

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

Score: 83.24

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $17,357
- Out-of-State: $39,293
Net Price: $22,291
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 83%
Total Enrollment: 32,229
Undergrad Students: 24,391
Graduate Students: 7,838
Grads Salary: $82,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Indiana University-Bloomington

Score: 81.17

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,790
- Out-of-State: $40,482
Net Price: $16,234
Acceptance Rate: 82%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 81%
Total Enrollment: 47,005
Undergrad Students: 35,660
Graduate Students: 11,345
Grads Salary: $76,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

LeTourneau University

Score: 79.35

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $35,500
- Out-of-State: $35,500
Net Price: $26,974
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 3,536
Undergrad Students: 3,350
Graduate Students: 186
Grads Salary: $87,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

Syracuse University

Score: 78.34

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $63,061
- Out-of-State: $63,061
Net Price: $43,651
Acceptance Rate: 52%
Retention Rate: 91%

Graduation Rate: 83%
Total Enrollment: 22,698
Undergrad Students: 15,421
Graduate Students: 7,277
Grads Salary: $85,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

Florida International University

Score: 78.01

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $6,565
- Out-of-State: $18,963
Net Price: $9,881
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 91%

Graduation Rate: 69%
Total Enrollment: 55,609
Undergrad Students: 45,688
Graduate Students: 9,921
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 24:1

University of Arizona

Score: 77.98

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,626
- Out-of-State: $41,095
Net Price: $17,075
Acceptance Rate: 87%
Retention Rate: 86%

Graduation Rate: 68%
Total Enrollment: 49,403
Undergrad Students: 38,751
Graduate Students: 10,652
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 17:1

Oregon State University

Score: 77.23

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $13,494
- Out-of-State: $35,664
Net Price: $21,163
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 87%

Graduation Rate: 70%
Total Enrollment: 34,292
Undergrad Students: 28,905
Graduate Students: 5,387
Grads Salary: $80,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

University of South Carolina-Columbia

Score: 77.03

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,688
- Out-of-State: $34,934
Net Price: $22,427
Acceptance Rate: 64%
Retention Rate: 90%

Graduation Rate: 78%
Total Enrollment: 35,653
Undergrad Students: 27,343
Graduate Students: 8,310
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Pepperdine University

Score: 76.93

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $66,742
- Out-of-State: $66,742
Net Price: $47,804
Acceptance Rate: 49%
Retention Rate: 88%

Graduation Rate: 84%
Total Enrollment: 10,030
Undergrad Students: 3,662
Graduate Students: 6,368
Grads Salary: $84,000
Student-to-faculty: 13:1

University of Missouri-Columbia

Score: 76.79

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $14,130
- Out-of-State: $34,338
Net Price: $19,889
Acceptance Rate: 79%
Retention Rate: 89%

Graduation Rate: 75%
Total Enrollment: 31,304
Undergrad Students: 23,745
Graduate Students: 7,559
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Simmons University

Score: 76.68

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $45,538
- Out-of-State: $45,538
Net Price: $24,423
Acceptance Rate: 76%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 74%
Total Enrollment: 5,710
Undergrad Students: 1,788
Graduate Students: 3,922
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 7:1

Arizona State University

Score: 76.63

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,051
- Out-of-State: $32,193
Net Price: $14,808
Acceptance Rate: 90%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 67%
Total Enrollment: 80,065
Undergrad Students: 65,492
Graduate Students: 14,573
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

University of La Verne

Score: 76.6

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $47,000
- Out-of-State: $47,000
Net Price: $25,103
Acceptance Rate: 74%
Retention Rate: 77%

Graduation Rate: 63%
Total Enrollment: 5,662
Undergrad Students: 3,365
Graduate Students: 2,297
Grads Salary: $85,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

Temple University

Score: 76.53

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $22,082
- Out-of-State: $37,462
Net Price: $23,935
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 84%

Graduation Rate: 78%
Total Enrollment: 33,196
Undergrad Students: 24,106
Graduate Students: 9,090
Grads Salary: $73,000
Student-to-faculty: 12:1

Washington State University

Score: 76.37

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $12,997
- Out-of-State: $29,073
Net Price: $17,911
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 27,539
Undergrad Students: 22,612
Graduate Students: 4,927
Grads Salary: $81,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

Saint Francis University

Score: 76.2

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,720
- Out-of-State: $41,720
Net Price: $27,459
Acceptance Rate: 73%
Retention Rate: 85%

Graduation Rate: 72%
Total Enrollment: 2,857
Undergrad Students: 2,461
Graduate Students: 396
Grads Salary: $79,000
Student-to-faculty: 15:1

Hallmark University

Score: 75.21

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $41,240
- Out-of-State: $41,240
Net Price: $12,281
Acceptance Rate: 53%
Retention Rate: 69%

Graduation Rate: 66%
Total Enrollment: 876
Undergrad Students: 792
Graduate Students: 84
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

Appalachian State University

Score: 74.76

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $7,541
- Out-of-State: $24,537
Net Price: $13,084
Acceptance Rate: 83%
Retention Rate: 83%

Graduation Rate: 75%
Total Enrollment: 20,436
Undergrad Students: 18,558
Graduate Students: 1,878
Grads Salary: $64,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

The University of Alabama

Score: 74.69

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $11,900
- Out-of-State: $33,200
Net Price: $20,592
Acceptance Rate: 80%
Retention Rate: 87%

Graduation Rate: 73%
Total Enrollment: 38,644
Undergrad Students: 32,458
Graduate Students: 6,186
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 19:1

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Score: 74.67

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $32,630
- Out-of-State: $32,630
Net Price: $25,310
Acceptance Rate: 67%
Retention Rate: 86%

Graduation Rate: 76%
Total Enrollment: 3,656
Undergrad Students: 2,785
Graduate Students: 871
Grads Salary: $70,000
Student-to-faculty: 16:1

Concordia University-Wisconsin

Score: 74.66

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $34,250
- Out-of-State: $34,250
Net Price: $24,485
Acceptance Rate: 70%
Retention Rate: 78%

Graduation Rate: 66%
Total Enrollment: 4,988
Undergrad Students: 2,817
Graduate Students: 2,171
Grads Salary: $77,000
Student-to-faculty: 11:1

Kansas State University

Score: 74.44

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,942
- Out-of-State: $27,816
Net Price: $18,855
Acceptance Rate: 95%
Retention Rate: 86%

Graduation Rate: 69%
Total Enrollment: 19,722
Undergrad Students: 15,046
Graduate Students: 4,676
Grads Salary: $74,000
Student-to-faculty: 18:1

University of Mary

Score: 74.42

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $21,468
- Out-of-State: $21,468
Net Price: $18,369
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 80%

Graduation Rate: 64%
Total Enrollment: 3,652
Undergrad Students: 2,506
Graduate Students: 1,146
Grads Salary: $75,000
Student-to-faculty: 14:1

Texas A&M University-Commerce

Score: 74.19

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $10,026
- Out-of-State: $22,626
Net Price: $13,025
Acceptance Rate: 86%
Retention Rate: 65%

Graduation Rate: 43%
Total Enrollment: 11,306
Undergrad Students: 7,383
Graduate Students: 3,923
Grads Salary: $91,000
Student-to-faculty: 20:1

Florida Atlantic University

Score: 74.15

Undergraduate Tuition
- In-State: $4,879
- Out-of-State: $17,324
Net Price: $9,711
Acceptance Rate: 81%
Retention Rate: 81%

Graduation Rate: 62%
Total Enrollment: 29,592
Undergrad Students: 24,191
Graduate Students: 5,401
Grads Salary: $71,000
Student-to-faculty: 22:1

Certificate vs. Bachelor’s

There are several online certificates you might earn with or without an online undergraduate bachelors; these are designed to give you a working knowledge of a specific area within business management. Certification is valuable if you already hold a degree in a different subject but, because most management positions prefer to hire those with a bachelor's degree in business, certificates should not be seen as a substitute for a business management degree.

Some employers might require special certification in a particular subject such as project management; in these situations, there is usually a time allowance for you to take the certification class and exam within the first six months or year of employment.

What Business Management Online Bachelor’s Degrees are Available?

There are three basic types of bachelor's business management degree offered. Here's a quick look at each:

Bachelor of Arts in Business Management (BA in Business or Management): in an arts program, the electives are more generalized, so you have more choices in other studies as opposed to choosing only business subjects.
Bachelor of Science in Business Management (BS in Business or Management): Here, electives are restricted to specific courses such as accounting or human resources within the business field.
Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Management (BAS in Business or Management): This includes core business curriculum, combined with a specialized management area such as operations management, business law, human resources or financial management.

Some schools title an online business management degree under "business" or "business administration" and offer management as a specialization within the program, so you should research offered business management degree programs before enrolling. Look at the specific courses required under each program, as well as any specializations offered, rather than narrowing your search to cover schools that only offer a business management degree program titled "business management courses".

Admission Requirements

Although each school sets their own online business management degree admission requirements, as a rule of thumb you should have a GPA of at least 3.0. Some, but not all schools, also have minimum SAT score requirements. You will need to submit a copy of your transcripts as well as personal information when you apply to each school. If you didn't do so great in high school, but still want to earn your bachelor's business management degree, you might consider taking the first two years at a community college in order to show you can maintain a solid GPA. Then you can transfer your credits to a four-year school to complete your bachelor’s business management degree requirements.

How long does it take to earn a Business Management Bachelor's?

An online bachelor's in business management is considered a four-year business degree; it typically takes four years of full-time coursework to complete. If you already have an associate degree, it should take about two more years to earn your online bachelor's degree in business or business management. A bachelor's in business management degree consists of 120 credit hours, so you can calculate your time frame by dividing the number of credits you take each year into 120.

If you're still in high school, you may be able to take college classes, allowing you to shorten the actual time in college needed for an online business degree. Most colleges also have a testing procedure in place that will allow you to take and pass an exam for college credit. For example, if you're an ace in English, you may be able to take and pass a test and skip one or more required English courses while receiving full credit.

Potential Careers for Business Management Graduates

Virtually every type of business requires management and business administration, while a small corner store can be a one-man show, there are many facets of management within a larger corporation. Here are some examples of bachelor degree-level careers within the field of business management, as well as the average annual income of each position.

Account Manager:
An account manager works with the marketing and sales teams to develop new customer relationships. They typically work with other businesses, giving presentations and sales pitches in order to bring the potential customer on board as a regular client. They also explain cost factors to clients and monitor the budget of each account.
Average Annual Income: $55,000
Business Analyst:
A business analyst gathers data concerning procedures or projects within a company. They analyze the information to offer alterations or possible solutions to specific problems concerning the inspected policy or procedure. They may spend their day poring over documents or interviewing employees in order to gather all the pertinent facts regarding the issue at hand.
Average Annual Income: $61,100
Sales Manager:
A sales manager sets the strategy behind a sales campaign. They may also set sales goals, work with customers to resolve complaints and issues, and track customer preferences in order to set new sales goals. Sales managers often also oversee the sales territories and set training initiatives for new sales members.
Average Annual Income: $61,300
Marketing Manager:
A marketing manager is charged with estimating the services and products demand by identifying new potential product markets to help the growth of sales. They may also oversee a marketing team and monitor the marketing budget to meet expenses and growth goals.
Average Annual Income: $65,900
Financial Analyst:
A financial analyst composes graphs, spreadsheets, and charts in order to analyze a company's finances and then explain it to corporate board members. They may conduct in-depth analysis to forecast industry expectations and prepare prospectus for investment plans.
Average Annual Income: $61,400

Find Your Online Business Management Program

Options to Advance

The field of business management has excellent opportunities for advancement, especially for business management graduates. Generally speaking, you might advance through experience and a proven track record alone, but to reach upper management you will likely need to earn at least a master's in business management degree.

Your options will depend on your chosen career. For example, a marketing manager might rise to marketing director and then chief marketing officer. A sales manager might advance to regional sales manager and then national sales manager.

Your employer might have specific educational requirements in place, but most will require at least an online bachelor's in business for management positions. If so, you will need to complete the designated classes or programs as indicated. For the best chances on advancement your long-term plan should include a master's degree in the area you've chosen to specialize in. That, combined with experience, will allow you to apply for upper management positions on the board of directors of major corporations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a business management degree allow me to move directly into a management position right out of school?

While there are some qualifiers, the answer to this question is yes. You aren’t likely to apply to work at a huge corporation and be immediately placed into a supervisory position though. Instead, you might be able to work as a supervisor in a smaller retail store, in the food service industry, in an automotive store if you have a significant amount of information on the subject, and in similar situations. In those organizations that have a lot of competition for roles, you are going to need some experience or a higher-level degree, and usually both, in order to start with a large company in a supervisory position.

What subjects are in business management?

Usually, business management covers the usual business core courses such as accounting, business law, business theory, entrepreneurship, marketing, etc. However, earning your degree in business management might mean that you need a greater overview of what is important to managers in business. You might also take courses such as business management, economics, management theory, etc. However, if you are considering earning this degree and you know which college(s) you are applying to, you might want to review their course catalog and see what the difference is between a regular business degree and a business management degree.

Best Online Bachelors in Business Management Degrees for 2024