Nobody wants a boss who doesn’t understand how businesses work. Aspiring entrepreneurs and future Fortune 500 executives alike need to understand how the fields of accounting, management, human resources, economics, marketing, and operations overlap in business.
Whether you want to be a generalist or a specialist, a bachelor’s degree in business management can make you a valuable asset to any organization.
You don’t have to move across the country to learn about the intricacies of the business world. There are countless online business management degree programs that can land you the credentials and expertise you need to start your career. To help you sort through them, we’ve used data from The National Center for Education Statistics and ratings from school-ranking entities like TheBestSchools.org, TopManagementDegrees.com, BestColleges.com, AffordableCollegesOnline.org, OnlineColleges.net, and CollegeRanker.com—so this list of the top 10 online bachelor’s programs in business administration is the best of the best.
To help you make the choice that’s right for you, we’ll show you each school’s:
- Tuition cost
- Program length
- Graduation rates
- Awards and accolades
- Accreditation
- Anything else we think will help you decide
Let’s find a school you’ll love! For starters, here are some highlights:
Most affordable
A couple of schools on this list are pretty affordable, but no matter what state you’re in, Colorado State University (#2 on our list) costs about $8,500 per year. If you’re incredibly ambitious and have lots of time on your hands, Capella University (#6) is a great choice, too. They offer a unique “Flex Path” format that lets you take unlimited courses for $2,300 per quarter.
Best employment rate
Not all schools follow up with alumni to get employment rates (or at least they don’t all choose to share them publicly). And a school can’t always take credit for a great employment rate, either. Some students (maybe even you) have jobs before they even enroll. And the data doesn’t distinguish between jobs in a related field and an entry-level job in the fast food industry.
That being said, if you want to go to the school with the highest percent of employed graduates, Colorado State University (#2) reported a 92% employment rate. You might also want to check out Arizona State University (#8) though. The 2016 Global University Employment Survey ranked them #9 for employable graduates–ahead of MIT, Columbia, and UCLA.
Best graduation rate
Quite a few schools on this list didn’t have graduation rate data available, and most of the others didn’t have particularly impressive rates. One school, however, had a graduation rate significantly higher than the national average of 59%.
Graduation rate shouldn’t be a huge factor to part time online students since you can complete programs at your own pace, but if you’re worried about actually completing your bachelor’s degree, look no further than #1 on our list, Northeastern University.
What’s the difference between a BBM and a BBA?
A couple of the schools on this list offer a bachelor’s in business administration with a concentration in management. There’s no noticeable difference between a degree like this and a bachelor in business management. I would say it’s semantics, but it’s not even that, really.
Some people may tell you that a BBM offers specializations in particular aspects of business, and that a BBA doesn’t–but that’s not true either. You might find that a BBM is more likely to be a bachelor of science than a bachelor of arts, but even that isn’t a very meaningful distinction. It really comes down to the school.
If a school offers both a BBA and a BBM (which is unlikely) then you’ll have to compare the two programs to see if there’s a difference in curriculum. There are no universal ground rules that all schools follow to distinguish between these two programs. So for all intents and purposes, they’re the same thing.
Now, on to the top ten!
1. Northeastern University
Tuition cost: about $60,000 total
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 86%
Accreditation:
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Colleges
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 1
- Rank on OnlineColleges.net: 2
- Rank on BestColleges.com: 3
Northeastern University offers an online degree completion program for a bachelor of science in management.
NU says the program “provides students the opportunity to gain functional knowledge in the areas necessary to become effective managers. By successfully completing this program, you will enhance your understanding of what is required to capably solve problems, manage resources, and oversee staff on a day-to-day basis.”
Your courses cover topics like:
- Accounting
- Business law
- Marketing
- Communications
- Project management
- International business
- Information systems
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, already employed, or looking to start your career in business, this program gives you a strong grasp of the business principles and skills you need to know.
One student said, “I’m learning things in the program that will help me in my efforts to start and manage my own business.”
Another claims, “The degree has provided me with opportunities to advance, while the curriculum has given me the skills to succeed with my advancement.”
You can watch a 5-minute webinar on the B.S. in management program to learn more.
2. Colorado State University-Global Campus
Tuition cost: about $8,500 per year
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: N/A
Employment rate: 92%
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on BestColleges.com: 1
- Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 3
- Rank on OnlineColleges.net: 3
Colorado State University offers an online bachelor of science in business management through their Global Campus.
Here’s what they want you to know about the program:
“The Bachelor of Science in Business Management program is designed to provide students with an understanding of the integration of various business units and the impact of decision making in an organization operating in the global economy. . . . As changes in the economy and the aging labor force impact local, national, and global organizations, the impetus is on internal advancement to capture employees’ existing skills and knowledge. Upon completion of the program, students will be prepared to apply critical analysis in decision-making affecting the fiscal and economic value of an organization, innovate and integrate appropriate technology, and lead at every organizational level.”
You’ll take courses in topics like:
- Management
- Marketing
- Operations
- Finance
- Economics
- Statistics
- International management
Colorado State University offers a-la-carte specializations for all of their online degrees, so for 15 additional credits you can choose from one of 21 specialization options to customize your degree. This is a great way to craft your degree to fit a particular industry or position, or to explore another topic that interests you.
Here are your specialization options:
- Computer programming
- Construction management
- Criminal forensics
- Criminal justice management
- Criminology
- Data management and analysis
- Emergency management
- Foundations of accounting
- Healthcare management
- Human resources and organizational development
- Information technology management
- Information technology operations
- International business
- Marketing
- Operations management and supervision
- Organizational leadership
- Project management
- Public and nonprofit management
- Public relations
- Small business and entrepreneurship
- Strategic communications
You can get quick descriptions of each specialization as it relates to management on CSU’s website, or follow the links above for an in-depth look at each one.
Here are some alumni statistics you may want to know about:
- 94% of alumni said their program contributed to their professional goals.
- 27% of alumni secured a better job after graduation.
- 20% of alumni received a pay increase within 12 months of graduation.
- 98% of employers are satisfied or very satisfied with employees who graduated from CSU-Global.
3. Florida International University
Tuition cost:
- In-state: about $25,000 total
- Out-of-state: about $39,000 total
Program length: 120
Graduation rate: N/A
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on BestColleges.com: 2
- Rank on TopManagementDegrees.com: 4
- Rank on OnlineColleges.net: 9
Florida International University offers an online bachelor of business administration with a concentration in management through the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business.
Through the program, “You will gain the skills to analyze and evaluate business challenges, improve efficiency and control costs and be able to make effective decisions in business scenarios.”
Topics include:
- Legal environment of business
- Information systems
- Operations management
- Business and professional communication
- Strategic management
- Applied macroeconomics
- Marketing management
- Financial management
- Applications of quantitative method
- Finance
- Statistics
- Accounting
Online students are eligible to enroll in FIU’s Honors College. The program requires 12 additional credits of honors coursework, which can be completed through a combination of courses, study abroad programs, or a research thesis under the guidance of a faculty member. These interdisciplinary courses are not more difficult than other courses, and any student can be accepted into the program. When you graduate, your degree will say that you graduated through the Honors College.
Online students at FIU are paired with a “success coach” to help you stay on track and make sure you get the personal attention you need.
4. Liberty University
Tuition cost:
- Part time: about $55,000 total
- Full time: about $47,000 total
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 51%
Employment rate: 88%
Accreditation:
- Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on OnlineColleges.net: 4
- Rank on CollegeRanker.com: 4
Liberty University offers an online bachelor of science in business administration degree with several management-related specializations.
Here’s what they’d like you to know about the program:
“Liberty University’s, ACBSP accredited, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, 100% online program, will help you master skills relevant to both the domestic and international marketplace, including general business, accounting, finance, and marketing. Courses will sharpen your leadership, management, and human resource skills as you learn to serve effectively as an expert in the modern business world. Our programs also integrate faith with learning in a professional atmosphere.”
While Liberty offers 18 specializations to choose from, the ones that most directly pertain to management are:
- Automotive dealer management
- Green and sustainable management
- Healthcare management
- Human resource management
- Leadership
- Marketing: Sales management and professional selling
- Project management
- Public administration
- Strategic marketing management
You’ll find brief descriptions of each specialization as well as course listings on the main BSBA page.
You may have noticed above that 88% of Liberty University’s graduates are employed within six months of graduation, but also, 72% of graduates obtained their first job in a field related to their area of study. Additionally, 88% of students were satisfied that the tuition they paid was a worthwhile investment. (Interesting that it’s the same percentage that got jobs . . .)
Note: LU accepts up to 90 transfer credits–that’s 75% of your degree!
5. LeTourneau University
Tuition cost: about $28,000 per year
Program length: 124 credits
Graduation rate: 53%
Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on BestColleges.com: 8
- Rank on OnlineColleges.net: 8
LeTourneau University offers an online bachelor in business management program with a concentration in nonprofit management.
You’ll learn biblically-based leadership principles and explore how economics, accounting, and finance directly impact an organization’s bottom line. You’ll also study how business law affects the workplace and improve your decision making and communication skills.
In this program, courses are usually taken one at a time and last from three to seven weeks. Each week, coursework begins on Monday and most of it is due on Sunday at midnight.
LeTourneau is a Christian university with an emphasis on innovation. Here’s what that looks like:
LeTourneau says, “Claiming every workplace in every nation as their mission field, LeTourneau University graduates are professionals of ingenuity and Christ-like character who see life’s work as a holy calling with eternal impact.”
6. Capella University
Tuition cost:
- Guided Path: about $347-420 per credit (pricing also varies based on course level)
- Flex Path: about $2,300 per quarter
Program length: 180 credits
Graduation rate: N/A
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on CollegeRanker.com: 2
Capella University offers an online bachelor of science in business with a specialization in management through the School of Business and Technology.
Here’s what they say about the program:
“When you see yourself as leadership material, it’s important to have the right degree to back it up. Our online business management degree can give you tools to help you stand out as a leader in your career. You’ll learn effective management techniques and strategic planning skills so you’ll be ready to make an impact in your career while playing a critical role at your current company or your future company.”
The website says you’ll “practice applying leadership skills and techniques to an organization” but it’s unclear if this means you will work directly with a real client. You’ll also learn how to apply management principles to your workplace.
Your education at CU focuses on “competency-based education.” Here’s what that means:
Capella University offers two paths to a degree: Flex Path and the Guided Path.
Flex Path gives you unlimited classes per quarter, but you can only sign up for two at a time–you have to finish one to start another. There are no class discussions, so you really can set your own pace.
The Guided Path sets the pace for you over 10 weeks, and you’ll take one to three courses per quarter. This path requires classroom discussions.
58% of graduates of the online BS in business program reported receiving a salary increase after graduating. You can see more employment-related statistics on Capella’s results website.
Note: Capella University is a distance-learning institution. They know what they’re doing when it comes to online education (which is why pricing is built around your schedule), and it’s also why graduation rates aren’t available. 0% of Capella University’s students met the NCES’s criteria to even count towards a graduation rate–they weren’t “first time, full time.” This could be due to CU’s unique program paths.
7. Davenport University
Tuition cost: about $17,000 per year
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 41%
Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on AffordableCollegesOnline.org: 1
Davenport University offers an online BBA in management through the Donald W. Maine College of Business. While it is a BBA, it doesn’t appear that this program is simply a management concentration–it even offers specializations of its own.
Here’s what they say about the program:
“A Davenport University bachelor’s degree in Management delivers critical skills to build your knowledge in the key functional areas of management as well as provide opportunities for performance-based, applied experiences to prepare you for a successful career in management.”
You’ll learn how to:
- Develop long-term and short-term plans to achieve your organization’s goals
- Establish structure and create a productive work environment
- Motivate and train employees
- Delegate authority
- Maintain an ethical work environment
- Evaluate employee performance
You can specialize in six different areas:
- Sustainable business development
- Risk management and insurance
- Entrepreneurial management
- Financial management
- Sport management
- Global project management
Fun fact: Davenport University was founded as a business school in 1866–they’ve been producing business graduates for over 160 years!
8. Arizona State University
Tuition cost:
- In state: about $10,000 per year
- Out-of-state: about $26,000 per year
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 67%
Accreditation:
- Higher Learning Commission
- Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on TopManagementDegrees.com: 2
- Named “most innovative” by U.S. News & World Report
- Recognized as #1 for authoring impactful research by Technovation
- Ranks in top 10 for graduate employability (Global University Employability Survey)
Arizona State University offers an online bachelor of science in management through the W.P. Carey School of Business.
Here’s what they’d like you to know about the program:
“The curriculum includes the fundamentals of the global economy, the world of e-business, ethics, human resource and strategic management and collaborative team skills. Throughout the program, theories and concepts of management and ethical leadership are enhanced by experiencing and testing these concepts in skill-based exercises, case discussions and real-world team-based project work. Graduates are actively recruited by management consulting firms, high-tech businesses, service and manufacturing companies and large and small private and nonprofit organizations.”
Over the course of the program, there are opportunities to pursue or even create internships through ASU’s unique “Handshake” program. ASU claims this program is part of the reason why they ranked higher than MIT, Columbia, and UCLA in the Global University Employability Survey.
Note: You only need a 2.0 GPA to graduate from ASU’s online business management program. If you’re going to pursue graduate studies though, you’ll probably want to shoot for at least a 3.0.
Fun fact: The faculty of the W.P. Carey School of Business are from six continents, and include a Nobel Laureate and members of the National Academy of Sciences.
9. Thomas Jefferson University
Tuition cost: about $41,000 per year
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 64%
Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Thomas Jefferson University offers an online bachelor of science in business management. The program is designed to be completed in two to three years.
Here’s what they say about the program:
“Learn the leadership skills to make the most out of an organization’s people, processes and potential to help it achieve its goals. Our curriculum is focused on teaching you to drive innovation while gaining expertise in professional communication, change management, problem solving and more.”
In addition to general business education and communications, your core classes cover topics like:
- Elements of organization
- Principles of management
- Learning with technology
- Economic decision making
- Finding and evaluating statistical data
- Financial decision making
- Leadership theory and ethical practices
You can choose a concentration in one of four areas:
- Operations management
- Principles of marketing
- Managerial accounting
- Organizational behavior
Or alternatively, you can take a business capstone seminar. Your choice will comprise 15 credits of your degree.
Note: Thomas Jefferson University recently merged with Philadelphia University. Philadelphia University used to have a top-ranked online bachelor in business management degree, and TJU’s program appears to be identical to that program.
10. Champlain College
Tuition cost: about $39,000 per year
Program length: 120 credits
Graduation rate: 62%
Accreditation: New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutes of Higher Education
Awards and accolades:
- Rank on TheBestSchools.org: 4
Champlain College offers an online bachelor of science in business management.
Here’s what they say about the program:
“Designed for working adults, you’ll find that the coursework in our B.S. in business management is directly applicable to the business challenges you face every day and can increase your value to your organization from your first day of classes. In addition to becoming a subject matter expert, the online business management degree program will help you gain confidence as you quickly progress through our courses and develop professionally while interacting with fellow classmates and practitioner-faculty who bring their real-world business experience to your discussions.”
To become a subject matter expert, the program offers nine concentration options, which come with special certificates upon graduation:
- Accounting
- Advanced accounting
- Cost accounting
- Forensic accounting
- Human resource management
- Organizational development
- Project management
- Supply chain management
On its own, one of these certificates probably wouldn’t mean much, but coupled with a BS in business management, it could help you stand out. Champlain College says it’s “a credential employers will respect,” but I’d encourage you to just call it a concentration. They’ll know what that means.
Note: Champlain College lets you transfer up to 90 credits from another school–that’s 75% of your degree!
A quick note on transferring schools
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, more than one third of all college students transfer schools before graduating. In order to transfer your credits from one school to another, the two schools usually have to be accredited by the same organizations. Interestingly, many of the schools on this list say they will accept credits from any regionally-accredited school.
Thankfully, all of the schools on this list meet that criteria. Five of them are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, two are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, two are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, and one is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
The best school is really up to you
We can’t tell you exactly which school is the best choice for you—and you shouldn’t let anyone else do that, either. You have to weigh the factors that are most important to you and let that guide your decision. Choosing a school is a huge investment—both in terms of what it immediately costs you and how it affects your life. So take your time.
We hope this list has helped make the decision a little easier for you. Good luck in your future studies!
