Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on
Learn how you can assess the various areas of potential gain to determine whether a business degree may be worth it for you.
Any degree you are seeking will require some level of investment, whether that’s measured in money, time, or energy. On the other end of that investment should be a payoff—increased earning potential, new skills, or movement toward your career goals, to name a few.
In general, getting a business degree tends to be a worthwhile investment. In this article, we’ll break down how you can assess the various areas of potential gain to determine whether a business degree may be worth it for you.
What is a business degree?
There are many types of business degrees spanning all levels of higher education. However, when someone refers broadly to a business degree, they are generally talking about a bachelor’s degree in any area of business. Programs may be more general, focusing on a broad range of business functions and how they interact with one another, or they may be more specialized, exploring in greater depth a singular area of business
Generalist business degrees may be in areas such as business administration or business management, while specialist business degrees may be in areas such as marketing or finance. Both types fall under the umbrella term of “business degree.”
Business degree salary and job outlook
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for business and financial occupations as of May 2022 was $76,850, which is over $30,000 higher than the median annual wage across all occupations. Additionally, jobs in this sector are projected to grow faster than average between 2022 and 2032 [1].
The majority of occupations included in this category—including financial analysts, market research analysts, and human resources specialists, to name a few—require a bachelor’s degree as the entry-level education, and getting a degree in business could position you to move into these career paths.
What can you do with a business degree?
A business degree can guide you toward a range of careers within the world of business, and can also prepare you for a career in adjacent fields. Learn more about in-demand jobs you can get with a business degree.
Business degree holders tend to earn more money than bachelor's degree holders across all fields of study. According to the BLS, people with a business degree earn a median salary of $69,000, while people holding a bachelor's degree in any field earn a median salary of $63,000 [2].
Learn more: Business Degree Salary Guide
Benefits of getting a business degree
A ZipRecruiter survey found that business is one of the least-regretted college majors among job seekers [3], indicating that business majors generally feel satisfied with what their degree afforded them. These degrees tend to be flexible, come with valuable career resources, and can lead to further business opportunities.
Transferable skills
Beyond the potential financial gains, people who complete a business degree program may find a somewhat unique level of flexibility in its applications. Business is present in nearly every modern industry, meaning degree holders have the option to apply their business degree to just about any area of industry.
Some transferable skills business degree holders may learn in the classroom include:
Communication
Adaptability
Teamwork
Leadership
Career resources and networking opportunities
Additionally, business school can be a great place to plant the seeds for your future success. Many undergraduate programs have career resource centers and extensive alumni networks that can be useful both while earning your degree and after you graduate. You may find opportunities to secure internships or learn directly from people who were once in the same place you are now.
Relationship building
If your long-term goals involve seeking a graduate degree, such as a Master of Business Administration (MBA), setting the foundation with an undergraduate business degree can be a useful step. Although a business degree is generally not a prerequisite for earning an MBA, you may make some valuable connections with faculty who can serve as long-term business mentors or may later write your MBA letter of recommendation.
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Typical business degree cost
Business degree seekers face some costs in exchange for the benefits mentioned above. On a financial level, that cost can range greatly depending on the school you attend. According to research from College Board, the average tuition and fees for the 2023-2024 school year are [4]:
$11,260 for a public four-year in-state school
$29,150 for a public four-year out-of-state school
$41,540 for a private nonprofit four-year school
Typically, it takes students about four years to earn their business degree.
Learn more: How Much Does College Cost?
Is a business degree worth it?
One way to decide whether a business degree is worth it for you is to look at your potential return on investment (ROI), which is essentially a comparison of your likely long-term gains against your short-term losses. Since it’s not possible to quantify certain aspects of your business degree—things like skills gained and networking opportunities—ROI typically deals with the financial aspects of value.
According to an analysis from The Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP), business degrees have a positive ROI 98 percent of the time. That means the vast majority of the time, business degree holders end up making more money because of their degree than they spent earning it [5].
These numbers sound promising, but remember that they are generalizations, not guarantees. FREOPP has a tool that can help you estimate your long-term earnings based on major and university here.
Is a business degree right for you?
Getting your bachelor’s degree in business can be associated with several benefits; however, the degree is only truly worth getting if the projected outcomes align with your goals. To get a better sense of what a business degree might entail, enroll in one of the University of London’s open online courses, Business Sustainability in the Circular Economy or Management Concepts through Metaphor and Music.
Both courses are part of the Bachelor of Science in Marketing. The school also offers a BSc in Business Administration. Earn your business degree entirely online from a top 25 UK university while gaining the knowledge and skills you need to move forward in your career.
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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.
