Top Online Business Management Degrees

Business Management Degree Online

An online bachelor's degree in business management prepares learners for various lucrative career paths. An online program offers one of the most affordable business management bachelor's degree options.

Online college programs allow students to earn their bachelor's in business management in as few as 18 months through fast-track programs. However, degree-seekers often take around four years to complete an online bachelor's degree.

Learners can earn a bachelor of applied science (BAS), bachelor of arts (BA), or bachelor of science (BS) degree. BAS degrees concentrate on hands-on experiences and incorporate job-related skills. A BA or BS offers a more theoretical focus.

Admission to an online bachelor's in business management program requires a high school diploma or the equivalent. Applicants may need to submit essays, transcripts, recommendation letters, and optional test scores. Participating in a summer business program while in high school may make applicants more competitive.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the number of management analyst jobs to grow 14% between 2020-2030, faster than the average for all occupations. These professionals earn a median annual wage of $87,660.

Questions Concerning Business Management Programs

What can you do with a bachelor's in business management?

Graduates can take many different career paths with a bachelor's in business management. Degree-holders can pursue a career in finance, accounting, management, and technology.

Is a BA or BS in business management better?

Each degree type offers value. BA students take classes in the liberal arts, which focus on various well-rounded courses. These include art, history, religion, and writing. BS students focus on math, science, and statistics.

How long is a bachelor's in business management?

Students can complete an online bachelor's in business management degree in four years of full-time study.

Is a bachelor's in business management hard?

Students may find a bachelor's in business management demanding. Some of the most difficult classes include accounting and economics, management communications, and capstone courses.

Why Get a Business Management Degree?

Business management bachelor's programs teach management techniques for the modern business environment. Degree-seekers enjoy many benefits of earning a business degree.

An online bachelor's degree in business management gives students a great introduction to the industry and a glimpse of real-life business situations.

Business management majors can specialize in a particular interest area, such as accounting or finance. Other interest areas can include global supply chain management, health services management, and entrepreneurship.

Students gain theoretical knowledge that can kickstart a career in the field. A business management degree prepares students for diverse career paths. For example, graduates can work as accountants, investment bankers, and marketing analysts.

Many master's programs seek confident leaders and excellent communicators. Earning a bachelor's degree in business management can develop the skills necessary for a master's program.

Students learn practical business skills through internships and exposure to real-world businesses. These hands-on experiences develop the management and leadership skills needed for leading a team.

How Much Does a Business Management Major Make?

According to the BLS, management occupations earn a median annual salary of $109,760 — the highest salary of all the major occupational groups.

Administrative services managers earn a median salary of $98,890 per year. They plan, direct, and coordinate activities so that organizations run efficiently. One of the more lucrative management positions, computer and information systems managers' median annual salary totals $151,150. These professionals plan, coordinate, and direct an organization's computer-related activities.

Graduates might want to consider certificate programs for high-paying opportunities. For example, students can earn the certified associate in project management and certified supply chain professional credentials.

A master's degree could also lead to higher salaries and advancement opportunities.

Bachelor's in Business Management Program Requirements

Business management bachelor's programs typically require applicants to hold a high school diploma or the equivalent. Many colleges also set minimum GPA requirements for admission, depending on the selectivity of the institution.

Candidates may also need to submit standardized test scores, such as SAT or ACT scores. Successful candidates may also need to provide letters of recommendation from teachers and supervisors.

During a bachelor's program, colleges or universities may require practical assignments like capstone projects and internships to graduate.

Bachelor's in Business Management Specializations

Learners can apply various specializations within bachelor's in business management programs. Specializing can help students focus their skills and prepare to apply them in a professional setting.

• Accounting Management

  An accounting management specialization helps business management majors handle real-world accounting scenarios. These tasks can include handling payroll, managing billing functions, and communicating financial data.

• Finance Management

  The finance management specialization helps students value real and financial assets needed by a business, risk management and financial derivatives, and corporate financing and dividend policy. The course covers the benefits, risks, and costs of finance management.

• Health Management

  Health management teaches the business side of the healthcare field. Students master topics such as health rights and responsibilities and healthcare policy. They study records management and insurance claims billing. Students also learn how to manage comprehensive healthcare billing systems, facilities, and patient accounting.

• Marketing Management

  Students learn marketing principles in this specialization. They explore planning, implementing, and evaluating marketing strategies to achieve a company's goals. Students also learn about market demand and competitive advantage. Courses cover marketing research, sales forecasting, and product and brand management.

• Management Information Systems

  Students learn about information technology used to support an information system and how to identify and manage business processes used in such systems. Learners also study how to use an information system for a competitive advantage.

• Sports Management

  A sports management degree combines business education with a sports-specific curriculum. Students take courses in sports marketing, finance, and the legal aspects of the sports industry. Students may also choose to pursue a concentration in results-centered sales or sports data analytics.

Courses in a Business Management Bachelor's Program

A typical business management bachelor's program requires 120 credit hours. The best business management bachelor's degrees offer both general education courses and business core courses.

General education requirements provide a well-rounded academic foundation. Business core courses offer an in-depth analysis of business concepts and principles. These core courses also develop students' research and analytical skills.

Specialized courses can help business management majors prepare for a global business environment. All schools may not offer every course listed below, but a sample curriculum could include the following classes.

• Global Business Management

  Political, legal, economic, and cultural factors influence human resource management and strategic planning. In this course, students learn how global relationships remain an integral part of business today. They also explore how to apply global business skills. Global business management helps students understand the difference between managing domestic and international environments.

• Business Law

  In this course, students learn and understand the laws that affect, regulate, and impact all businesses. Students analyze situations that cause torts and study negligence liability. They use real-world business scenarios to learn how to protect all types of businesses from liability.

• Leadership Principles

  Understanding leadership and different leadership styles can greatly improve students' abilities to navigate any business situation. Leadership principles courses teach the tenets of leadership. Coursework explores various leadership theories so students can apply them in a professional business setting.

Best Online Bachelor's Degree in Business Management

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1. Eastern New Mexico University

   Location

   Portales, NM

   Tuition

   $10918

   Graduation Rate

   35%

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   A public university located in Portales, ENMU offers an online bachelor of business administration with a concentration in management. Students complete 120 credits online in both an asynchronous and synchronous format, which offers flexibility and the chance to interact with faculty directly.

   In addition to business core and general education requirements, students complete a management course series. Course topics include human resource management, training and development, operations management and leadership, and leadership and organizational change. Management students do not need to complete an internship.

   Applicants need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to qualify for admission. The school does not require SAT or ACT scores and does not specify a minimum GPA for eligibility.

   ENMU holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission.

2. University of Louisiana at Monroe

   Location

   Monroe, LA

   Tuition

   $9455

   Graduation Rate

   44%

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   A public university located in Monroe, ULM provides an online bachelor of business administration with a concentration in management. Learners finish 120 credits without campus requirements and receive the same support services as on-campus students.

   Students begin with business courses such as international business and business communication before taking a course series in management. Course topics include organizational behavior, operations management, management in practice, and enterprise management. Learners receive support through career and academic advising and take courses on a flexible, asynchronous schedule.

   Applicants need a high school diploma or GED equivalent to qualify for admission. The school does not require students to submit standardized test scores. Transfer students must complete college English and college math before declaring the major.

   ULM is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

3. Southeastern University

   Location

   Lakeland, FL

   Graduation Rate

   42%

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   A private Christian university located in Lakeland, Florida, SEU offers an online bachelor of science in organizational leadership. Students complete 120 credits in a fully online, asynchronous delivery format.

   In addition to required undergraduate general education and elective courses, students train in leadership and management skills. Notable major requirements include principled leadership, organizational behavior, leading organizational change, and great leaders through history. Learners explore management through the lens of Christian faith and the principles of servant leadership. Courses happen in eight-week increments, allowing students to focus on fewer courses at one time.

   Applicants need a high school diploma to qualify for admission. The school does not require students to submit standardized test scores. Instead, applicants must supply a Christian character reference form.

   SEU holds regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

4. Southeastern Oklahoma State University

   Location

   Durant, OK

   Tuition

   $8490

   Graduation Rate

   33%

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   A public university located in Durant, Southeastern confers an online bachelor of business administration in management. Students complete 124 credits without any campus requirements, including both major and general education courses.

   Learners begin with business courses such as the fundamentals of financial accounting, business information management, and business and professional writing. From there, the university requires five management-specific courses such as small business management, supervisory management, contemporary issues in management, and entrepreneurship and new ventures. Students must also complete a series of electives and general education requirements to finish the degree.

   The school allows students to transfer up to 90 credits toward their degree. Applicants need a high school diploma or GED equivalent and either a minimum ACT score of 20 (or SAT equivalent) or a minimum 2.7 GPA and a top 50% ranking in their graduating class to qualify for admission. Transfer students need a minimum GPA of 2.0 for eligibility.

   Southeastern is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. The school also boasts programmatic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

5. McNeese State University

   Location

   Lake Charles, LA

   Tuition

   $9985

   Graduation Rate

   45%

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   Located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, McNeese offers an online bachelor of science in management. Students can further specialize their management degree with a concentration in human resource management. Learners complete 120 credits in seven-week terms with no campus requirements. Students can complete the program in about four years.

   In addition to management requirements, learners finish general education core and complete business electives. Management core topics include management concepts and practices, strategic management, managing the diverse workplace, business ethics and corporate social responsibility, and operations management and quantitative methods.

   Applicants need a high school diploma or GED equivalent with a cumulative GPA of 2.35 to qualify for admission. Students must also possess a minimum ACT score of 18 (or the SAT equivalent) for eligibility.

   McNeese holds regional accreditation under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The school also received programmatic accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.