Best colleges for Business Administration
Ranked by graduate earnings
The top bachelor's colleges for Business Administration by graduate earnings are Manhattan University ($113,777), Bismarck State College ($100,668) and Carnegie Mellon University ($95,891), based on median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, among programs with at least 20 graduates a year, excluding online, degree-completion and graduate-only schools and those with a graduation rate under 30%.
- Manhattan University (Riverdale, NY): $113,777, 43 graduates a year
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck, ND): $100,668, 48 graduates a year
- Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, PA): $95,891, 201 graduates a year
- University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI): $93,674, 1,449 graduates a year
- University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA): $91,443, 306 graduates a year
Compare 2,461 U.S. colleges offering Business Administration by graduate earnings, cost, and outcomes. Federal data across 58 states.
Business Administration programs report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,714 (College Scorecard, 2019), and map to CIP 52.02 and the General and Operations Managers occupation (BLS SOC).
About Business Administration programs
The Business Administration program, officially titled Business Administration, Management and Operations, equips students with essential skills for managing and leading organizations. This program is ideal for individuals seeking to understand the complexities of business operations and develop strategic decision-making capabilities in various sectors.
Students will gain knowledge in administration and management, customer service, and human resources, along with core skills such as critical thinking, active listening, and effective communication. Coursework often includes topics in logistics, operations management, and e-commerce.
Top 25 bachelor's programs, ranked by graduate earnings
Ranked by median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary), College Scorecard, predominant credential. Programs with fewer than 20 graduates a year, a graduation rate under 30%, or online, degree-completion or graduate-only status rank after the rest.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manhattan University Riverdale, NY Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $113,777 | 43 | 64% | $26,807 | $25,328 |
| 2 | Bismarck State College Bismarck, ND Public · Bachelor's degree | $100,668 | 48 | 47% | — | $15,452 |
| 3 | Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $95,891 | 201 | 94% | $23,803 | $23,250 |
| 4 | University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $93,674 | 1,449 | 93% | — | $19,000 |
| 5 | University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $91,443 | 306 | 97% | $22,055 | $20,348 |
| 6 | University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $90,008 | 430 | 93% | — | $12,195 |
| 7 | Emory University Atlanta, GA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $85,682 | 56 | 91% | $20,586 | $19,500 |
| 8 | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, NC Public · Bachelor's degree | $85,618 | 448 | 91% | — | $14,339 |
| 9 | Georgetown University Washington, DC Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $77,479 | 399 | 95% | $22,242 | $16,422 |
| 10 | Washington and Lee University Lexington, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $76,627 | 91 | 94% | $11,983 | — |
| 11 | William & Mary Williamsburg, VA Public · Bachelor's degree | $75,038 | 519 | 89% | — | $19,812 |
| 12 | Georgia Institute of Technology Atlanta, GA Public · Bachelor's degree | $73,557 | 497 | 94% | — | $23,000 |
| 13 | Texas Christian University Fort Worth, TX Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,984 | 188 | 86% | $25,823 | $25,000 |
| 14 | California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, CA Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,876 | 817 | 86% | — | $17,000 |
| 15 | Boston College Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,675 | 267 | 91% | $21,126 | $17,873 |
| 16 | University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,668 | 535 | 92% | $26,873 | $17,375 |
| 17 | Boston University Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,545 | 1,958 | 89% | $21,956 | $25,000 |
| 18 | Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Public · Bachelor's degree | $71,253 | 662 | 81% | — | $23,250 |
| 19 | Brigham Young University Provo, UT Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $71,163 | 292 | 81% | $13,712 | $11,000 |
| 20 | Stevens Institute of Technology Hoboken, NJ Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $70,694 | 168 | 87% | $34,827 | $27,000 |
| 21 | Babson College Wellesley, MA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,970 | 1,245 | 93% | $30,326 | $23,000 |
| 22 | Pepperdine University Malibu, CA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,751 | 596 | 83% | $41,986 | $28,000 |
| 23 | Lehigh University Bethlehem, PA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $69,289 | 53 | 88% | $26,912 | $20,500 |
| 24 | University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Champaign, IL Public · Bachelor's degree | $68,442 | 1,655 | 85% | — | $19,175 |
| 25 | University of Richmond University of Richmond, VA Private not-for-profit · Bachelor's degree | $68,151 | 277 | 85% | $24,049 | $20,500 |
Top certificate or associate program
Shorter credentials, ranked separately so they are not compared with four-year degrees. Ranked by median earnings one year after completion (often called starting salary), College Scorecard.
| # | Institution | Starting salary (1 yr) | Graduates / yr | Grad rate | Net price | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Purdue University West Lafayette, IN Public · Certificate | $71,977 | 1,035 | 83% | — | $19,500 |
Specializations within Business Administration
16 of the 17 6-digit CIP codes under CIP 52.02 have U.S. graduates (NCES CIP 2020, IPEDS 2024–25). Each links to its own page, ranked by graduates.
- Business Administration and ManagementCIP 52.0201348,906 graduates / yr2,305 institutions57 states
- Organizational LeadershipCIP 52.021316,743 graduates / yr548 institutions52 states
- Business AdministrationCIP 52.029912,575 graduates / yr296 institutions48 states
- Operations Management and SupervisionCIP 52.020511,666 graduates / yr144 institutions40 states
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain ManagementCIP 52.020311,155 graduates / yr377 institutions46 states
- Project ManagementCIP 52.02116,015 graduates / yr190 institutions46 states
- Office Management and SupervisionCIP 52.02042,955 graduates / yr196 institutions35 states
- Non-Profit/CIP 52.0206
Public/ Organizational Management 2,409 graduates / yr175 institutions42 states - Retail ManagementCIP 52.02121,362 graduates / yr62 institutions20 states
- PurchasingCIP 52.0202800 graduates / yr35 institutions22 states
- Transportation/CIP 52.0209
Mobility Management 502 graduates / yr31 institutions16 states - E-Commerce/CIP 52.0208
Electronic Commerce 414 graduates / yr35 institutions18 states - Science/CIP 52.0216
Technology Management New in CIP 2020399 graduates / yr29 institutions19 states - Research and Development ManagementCIP 52.0210318 graduates / yr24 institutions16 states
- Customer Service ManagementCIP 52.0207237 graduates / yr17 institutions11 states
- Risk ManagementCIP 52.0215New in CIP 2020236 graduates / yr17 institutions10 states
Show all 17 codes (1 with no U.S. programs reported)+
- Research Administration52.0214
No institution reported completions for these codes in the latest IPEDS year, so they have no page.
Offered across 58 states & territories
The same program, compared state by state. Pick a state for in-state earnings and institutions.
Careers & outlook
The payoff after graduation: occupation 11-1021, General and Operations Managers, and its national outlook.
Graduates of the Business Administration program can pursue a variety of careers in management and operations. The job outlook is promising, with an expected growth rate of 4.4% and approximately 308,700 annual openings. The median wage for positions in this field is around $102,950, typically requiring a bachelor's degree.
Top-paying metros
Related careers
CIP-to-SOC crosswalk for Business Administration
The SOC occupations NCES officially maps to CIP 52.02.
Under the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk, CIP 52.02 (Business Administration, Management and Operations) maps to 43 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) occupations, the jobs the U.S. Department of Labor links to this field of study.
| SOC code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 11-1011 | Chief Executives |
| 11-1021 | General and Operations Managersprimary |
| 11-2022 | Sales Managers |
| 11-2033 | Fundraising Managers |
| 11-3012 | Administrative Services Managers |
| 11-3013 | Facilities Managers |
| 11-3021 | Computer and Information Systems Managers |
| 11-3031 | Financial Managers |
| 11-3051 | Industrial Production Managers |
| 11-3061 | Purchasing Managers |
| 11-3071 | Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers |
| 11-3111 | Compensation and Benefits Managers |
| 11-3121 | Human Resources Managers |
| 11-3131 | Training and Development Managers |
| 11-9021 | Construction Managers |
| 11-9033 | Education Administrators, Postsecondary |
| 11-9039 | Education Administrators, All Other |
| 11-9041 | Architectural and Engineering Managers |
| 11-9072 | Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling |
| 11-9111 | Medical and Health Services Managers |
| 11-9121 | Natural Sciences Managers |
| 11-9151 | Social and Community Service Managers |
| 11-9179 | Personal Service Managers, All Other |
| 11-9199 | Managers, All Other |
| 13-1011 | Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes |
| 13-1023 | Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, Retail, and Farm Products |
| 13-1051 | Cost Estimators |
| 13-1071 | Human Resources Specialists |
| 13-1081 | Logisticians |
| 13-1082 | Project Management Specialists |
| 13-1111 | Management Analysts |
| 13-1131 | Fundraisers |
| 13-1141 | Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists |
| 13-1199 | Business Operations Specialists, All Other |
| 13-2053 | Insurance Underwriters |
| 13-2054 | Financial Risk Specialists |
| 13-2099 | Financial Specialists, All Other |
| 15-2011 | Actuaries |
| 25-1011 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary |
| 41-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers |
| 43-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers |
| 49-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers |
| 51-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers |
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk.
Skills & knowledge in Business Administration programs
From the U.S. Dept. of Labor for the occupation this program most leads to.
Skills you'll build
Knowledge areas
What graduates do on the job
- Review financial statements, sales or activity reports, or other performance data to measure productivity or goal achievement or to identify areas needing cost reduction or program improvement.
- Direct and coordinate activities of businesses or departments concerned with the production, pricing, sales, or distribution of products.
- Direct administrative activities directly related to making products or providing services.
- Prepare staff work schedules and assign specific duties.
- Direct or coordinate financial or budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments, or increase efficiency.
- Plan or direct activities, such as sales promotions, that require coordination with other department managers.
Common questions
What is the focus of the Business Administration program?+
The program focuses on management and operations within various business sectors.
What skills will I develop in this program?+
You will develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and management.
What are the career prospects after graduation?+
The job outlook is strong, with a growth rate of 4.4% and many opportunities available.
What level of education is typically required?+
A bachelor's degree is typically required for careers in this field.
How much do Business Administration graduates earn?+
Business Administration graduates report median earnings one year after graduation (often called starting salary) of $43,714, College Scorecard (2019); the General and Operations Managers occupation pays about $134,940 on average nationally (BLS OEWS May 2025).
What is the CIP code for Business Administration?+
Business Administration maps to CIP 52.02 in the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), the U.S. Department of Education taxonomy used for College Scorecard Field of Study earnings and IPEDS completions.
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
Explore every U.S. college in one conversation
Clema turns plain-language questions into sourced answers across every U.S. institution — earnings, aid, acceptance, graduation, safety, and athletics from IPEDS, College Scorecard, and 10+ federal datasets, built in.
Free for teams up to 3 · No credit card