Business Administration vs Accounting: What Degree Should I Get? - Bay Atlantic University - Washington, D.C. (2023)

FAQs

Is it better to major in accounting or business administration? ›

In addition, a bachelor's degree in Business Administration can give you the tools and skills to start your own business. A bachelor's degree in Accounting will prepare you for a career focused solely on the finances in public or private sector, including government, nonprofit and corporate settings.

The perfect degree for anyone interested in acquiring strong leadership skills and getting top leader jobs is an MBA (master of business administration). The program typically provides you with knowledge in accounting, management, finance, marketing, and business law, while focusing on leadership and business strategy.

Is a business administration degree worth it? Whether you're interested in starting your own business or playing a key role in another organization, the answer is yes. A business administration degree lays the groundwork for success across many professions and industries.

Yes, an accounting major is considered one of the various types of business degrees. Some schools offer bachelor's of science degrees in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Generally speaking, people consider accounting majors to be more difficult to study and pass than finance majors. And there are a few different reasons for this. The content of accounting majors is, on average, much more technical than for finance majors, and this can make it more difficult.

The job market is a fertile ground for business administration professionals. You could find employment in fields like human resources, marketing, accounting, banking, and other related fields.

The demand for accounting graduates is obvious—with nationwide job growth for accountants and auditors projected to be 11.2% by 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This growth necessitates a strong pipeline of accounting graduates.

The highest-paying business majors include marketing, finance, and international business. Management and human resources management also rank in the top five business majors with the highest salary potential.

The accounting field focuses solely on accounting practices, principles, and theories. Meanwhile, business administration places an emphasis on business management and operations. An accounting degree prepares learners to consult and manage financial matters for businesses, governments, individuals, and organizations.

Which is better BA or BS in business administration? ›

The BS degree offers more practical experience and is especially helpful for those who want a more specialized, technical career, such as economics, accounting, or business analytics. With a BS degree, you often can choose a specialized “track” to work towards in addition to your general courses.

It also requires a strong understanding of business operations and the ability to use financial data to make sound decisions. In other words, accounting is more than just math—it's a complex and challenging profession requiring specialized knowledge and skills.

While accountants put together financial statements, administrative accountants handle other functions, such as bookkeeping and budgeting.

Earning a bachelor's degree in accounting can help qualify you to sit for the certified public accountant (CPA) exam. With a CPA credential you can find more positions at advanced levels. However, to meet the full educational requirements for CPA licensure, many candidates choose to obtain a master's degree.

Accounting can be a very challenging major and takes four years of serious commitment to complete. With difficult classes, intense curriculums, and very little free time, many international students find that accounting may not be right for them and decide to leave the field.

In general, a business degree is not hard. However, your course load may be heavy, which I'll discuss further in a moment. And some courses will be harder for some than others. But the depth of study in each area is not as great as it would be for a specialized Business Major.

The work can be stressful

But that pressure and stress can have an impact on your overall mental health and deserves consideration. These negative experiences have a lot to do with where an accountant works and the specifics of their roles.

There is no other way to say this… accounting is hard! As the language of business, it will take a lifetime plus two years to become fluent. So, in college, don't be surprised if you find yourself in the library while your friends are out at a bar.

Just over half of Fortune 100 CEOs have a degree in business, economics, or accounting, while 27% studied engineering or science, and 14% law. Fortunately, there's no need to spend your money on a top-school at this stage.

What are the disadvantages of business administration? ›

One of the major disadvantages of completing a business administration degree is it can be expensive. If you complete an associate degree, you should pay less for tuition and fees than you would by spending an additional two to three years in a university for a bachelor's degree.

It can be very difficult to get that first accounting job. Employers want a candidate with accounting experience, but you can't get hired to get the experience. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to get your foot in the door. With a bit of creative thinking, you can persuade an employer to give you a chance.

Accounting information may be biased

Different methods of inventory valuation, depreciation methods, treatment of revenue and capital expenses etc can be adopted by the accountant for measurement of income of the entity. Hence, the income arrived in certain cases might be incorrect due to the lack of objectivity.

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a business manager.

The chances of earning over $100k for a business manager are actually pretty good because the highest-paid business manager positions typically pay at least $144,000 per year.

You'll need to be able to do basic addition and subtraction, but complex algebra, geometry, and calculus are not part of this program. If you can listen, learn how to apply theoretical concepts to the real world, and review a few simple numbers, you can do the work.

For many aspiring business students, the most harrowing component of the entire experience is the math coursework. The business degree track requires students to take calculus, often a dreaded and difficult experience for many.

While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $98,903 and as low as $23,502, the majority of salaries within the Business Administration Degree jobs category currently range between $35,252 (25th percentile) to $60,712 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $84,213 annually in California.

Accounting is important as it keeps a systematic record of the organization's financial information. Up-to-date records help users compare current financial information to historical data. With full, consistent, and accurate records, it enables users to assess the performance of a company over a period of time.

The field of finance offers more career choices but also less predictability. In some cases, careers in finance might offer higher pay. Careers in accounting can offer more predictable and stable work but less pay in many cases.

A business-administration career path is a popular choice for one key reason — job flexibility. It is one of the few degrees that allows you to work in almost any sector for companies of all sizes and to do many things.

What is a Bachelors in business administration Good For? ›

With a degree in business administration, you may be able to make your career as an accountant, administrative services manager, financial analyst, health services manager, HR specialist, management analyst, market research analyst or marketing manager.

The benefits of a BBA degree include increased job opportunities and higher earning potential. Graduates with a BBA degree are well-prepared for a wide range of careers in business, including management positions in companies of all sizes and industries.

Among the most popular are: Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA).

The top three regretted majors, according to ZipRecruiter, are journalism (87%), sociology (72%), and liberal arts and general studies (72%). The top three regret-free majors, all above 70%, are computer and information sciences, criminology, and engineering.

Pursuing a bachelor's degree in I.T., computer science, engineering, mathematics, or any related field is the first step towards the goal of earning 6-figure salaries in this field.

Engineering is perhaps the most versatile major on the board, in that several career opportunities exist within its domain.

If you don't have an accounting degree, you can still become a CPA, you will likely just need to catch up in the following areas: Earning the minimum number of accounting credit hours. Earning the minimum number of business credit hours. Obtaining relevant experience.

Accounting isn't hard-core math. It's basic addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Possibly some light, entry-level algebra, but that's it.

Corporate Accountant

Individuals with higher-level degrees, CPA certification, along with additional expertise, can earn upwards of $89,000 per year.

To study at university, you will need to take mathematics and finance subjects. But to study with a private college or distance learning institution, you don't need any prior knowledge on this topic. Here at Skills Academy, we offer our programmes via Open Access.

Is business administration an AA or AS degree? ›

Depending on your school, the formal name for the degree may be either Associate of Business Administration (ABA), Associate of Arts in Business Administration (AABA), or Associate of Science in Business Administration (ASBA).

Getting a CPA License is a Must in Certain Industries

For most industries, getting a master's degree is not a must. However, you need a CPA license to move beyond the manager level in any reputable CPA firm. A CPA license also becomes almost necessary once you move to senior finance positions in big companies.

An associate degree in accounting is a two-year degree that can help students start their careers in accounting, and it is offered by community colleges, technical colleges, business schools, and through online programs.

The accounting field focuses solely on accounting practices, principles, and theories. Meanwhile, business administration places an emphasis on business management and operations. An accounting degree prepares learners to consult and manage financial matters for businesses, governments, individuals, and organizations.

Is Accounting a Good Major? The short answer is a resounding yes. If you want to work in accounting, finance or business, getting a bachelor's or master's degree in accounting is a great investment in your career.

Is accounting a good major? Yes, accounting is a good major with above average pay and 7% job growth (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Majoring in Accounting comes with a number of benefits. And with excellent pay projections ranging from $66k to $134k (Bureau of Labor Statistics), there's plenty of room for advancement.

A bachelor's degree in business administration offers a broad grounding in the world of commerce and a bachelor's degree in finance tends to be more specialized, placing greater emphasis on investments and financial institutions. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

A Bachelors of Arts (BA) degree in business administration has a focus on liberal arts studies and general business knowledge. This means it may apply to a wider range of career paths than the more-specialized Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in business administration.

Try to honestly assess your attitude toward pressure and heavy workloads. If you don't stress easy or don't mind being a little high-strung, working as an accountant might not bother you. If you know you're easily frazzled, it's possible that an accounting career isn't the ideal choice for you.

What accounting is most in demand? ›

There are various roles for tax accountants, but senior tax accountants are the positions with the most demand.

Students who prefer empirical research and statistical analysis are likely better suited for economics. Students who prefer applying theories hands-on, working with people, and leading teams might enjoy finance more. Of course, both require strong math, analytical, and decision-making skills.