What Can You Do with a Business Degree?

A Bachelor’s Degree in Business Opens Many Opportunities

A bachelor’s degree in business administration offers training and coursework in many different topics, from accounting and finance to marketing and communications. But what can you do with a business degree after you graduate?

With three campuses in Minnesota as well as online degrees, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers engaging academic programs grounded in the principles of Lasallian Catholic education. Students can earn a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Business Administration in as little as one year through the university’s online degree completion program. Here, we highlight a few potential career paths for business students.

Careers in Business Administration

The world of business is diverse and changing rapidly. Companies are always in need of motivated individuals with the analytical skills that help them reach their business goals. Once you’ve earned your business degree, a few of the fields you can work in are:

Human Resources

Employees are the most valuable asset of any company. Human resources (HR) departments are tasked with managing the employee experience, from recruitment and hiring to ongoing training and professional development. Many individuals who study business administration go on to work as HR specialists, training coordinators, or compliance managers. They may work in generalist roles, or focus on a specific aspect of HR, such as employee recruitment.

Finance and Budgeting

Your degree can also help you find roles in financial management or budgeting. Budget analysts, for example, track organizational spending and prepare reports that help companies make business decisions. Similarly, finance managers may assist with budget planning, performing internal audits, or bookkeeping.

Marketing

Students who study business administration are also well-suited to advertising and marketing roles. Using their organizational and analytical skills, they can conduct market research, plan promotional campaigns, or track advertising spending. Marketing specialists often work closely with sales teams to promote products and services, target potential customers, and monitor consumer behavior.

While there are plenty of career opportunities in business administration, some graduates choose to continue their education to be eligible for more senior-level roles. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is typically the next step for business students who want an advanced degree. However, some choose to specialize in one area, such as human resources or organizational leadership.

Job Outlook for Business Administration Graduates

Individuals who major in business administration can look forward to a strong job outlook after graduation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, business and financial workers are in high demand in the United States. BLS anticipates approximately 911,400 job openings annually in this field over the next ten years. The median annual wage for financial and business positions is also significantly higher than average for all types of occupations. Those who work as training specialists, for example, had a median annual salary of $63,080 in 2022. But salaries were even higher among analysts:

• Budget analyst: $82,260
• Management analyst: $95,290
• Financial analyst: $96,220

Some business professions require special certifications or accreditations. One example is accounting – to move up in the field, you may need to become a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Accelerated Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

The B.S. in Business Administration at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota prepares graduates to work as organizational leaders in a wide range of business settings. This online program is also designed to include the coursework required for admission into many master’s-level business programs. The curriculum includes courses in:

• Business law
• Statistics
• Marketing
• Accounting and finance
• Business intelligence
• Ethics
• Management and leadership
• Professional writing and communication

Students also complete a capstone course that synthesizes their coursework and allows them to practice written and oral presentation skills. This is a 120-credit program, but students are permitted to transfer up to 90 credits from other institutions to finish the degree on an accelerated timeline.

Earn Your Business Degree Online

Students at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota will find a welcoming academic environment focused on empowering learners to become ethical leaders. Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the university offers several business degree completion programs designed to suit the needs of adult learners in Minnesota and beyond. In addition to the B.S. in Business Administration, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota offers the following online degrees:

• B.S. in Accounting
• B.S. in Healthcare Management
• B.S. Human Resource Management
• B.S. in Information Technology
• B.S. in Criminal Justice Leadership

To learn more about finishing your business degree through Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, request information or apply for admission today.