Best Online Bachelor’s in Business Management 2021
| TBS Staff
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A bachelor's degree in business management gives students the problem-solving, decision-making, and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in lucrative and in-demand managerial business roles.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects business management jobs to increase 7% between 2018 and 2018. Professionals in this field earn an average annual salary of $104,240.
| #1 | University of Florida – Online Gainesville, FL |
| #2 | Florida International University Miami, FL |
| #3 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide Daytona Beach, FL |
| #4 | University of Wisconsin – Whitewater Whitewater, WI |
| #5 | Southern New Hampshire University Manchester, NH |
| #6 | Trine University Online Fort Wayne, IN |
| #7 | Northwestern State University of Louisiana Natchitoches, LA |
| #8 | University of Louisiana at Monroe Monroe, LA |
| #9 | University of Northwestern – St Paul Saint Paul, MN |
| #10 | Fort Hays State University Hays, KS |
Featured Online Schools
Best Online Bachelor's in Business Management Programs
A public land-grant research university founded in 1853, the University of Florida houses the eighth-largest campus in the U.S.
Through the Warrington College of Business, UF Online offers both a bachelor of science in business administration (BSBA) and a bachelor of arts in business administration (BABA). The BSBA covers disciplines such as real estate and entrepreneurship. The 11 specializations for BABA candidates include sport or event management.
First-time student applications require ACT or SAT scores and a cumulative 'C' average on all core classes; minimum 2.0 GPA for dual enrollment courses.
Florida International University, the largest university in South Florida, first opened its doors in 1965. More than 58,000 students attend annually.
FIU Online's bachelor of business administration with a concentration in management (BBA in management) provides a fully online curriculum. Undergraduates pair with a success coach and specialize in accounting, finance, marketing, and statistics.
Students apply for one of three annual start dates, submitting a high school transcript and SAT or ACT scores.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU), a private institution established in 1926, specializes in aviation and aerospace academics.
ERAU's bachelor of science in aviation business administration degree accommodates distance learners pursuing careers in the growing industry. Students complete 30 credits in aviation management as part of the 120-credit program.
The program offers 12 annual start dates. Candidates submit high school or college transcripts. ACT or SAT scores are not required but highly recommended. Discounted tuition benefits extend to military members.
Founded in 1868, UW-Whitewater accommodates more than 12,000 students across two campuses and online.
Students benefit from mentoring, technical support, and career planning while pursuing an online bachelor's in general management degree. In addition to 45 credits focusing on economics, operations, leadership, and stakeholder management, business majors complete 20 hours of community service.
First-year students submit ACT or SAT scores and high school transcripts for consideration.
Founded in 1932 and now one of the fastest-growing private institutions, Southern New Hampshire University enrolls more than 80,000 online students annually.
Pursuing a bachelor of science in business administration (BBA) allows working professionals to complete their degree asynchronously with one of 14 specialties. Concentrations include nonprofit management, project management, and sports management.
Six annual undergraduate terms help candidates avoid acceptance delays. SNHU accepts up to 90 transfer credits and extends a 30% military discount.
Established in 1884 as Tri-State Normal College, Trine University adopted its current name in 1974. A small private university, Trine enrolls an average of 5,000 students annually.
Through TrineOnline, remote students pursue a bachelor of science in business administration-management (BSBA) degree asynchronously. Of the 120 credits, 78 encompass operations, accounting, project management, and internship hours, covering core competencies.
Applications require high school transcripts or GED exam scores. Active military and veterans receive tuition discounts and transfer credits for military experience.
A public university with roots dating back to 1884, Northwestern State University (NSU) became the first Louisiana-based school offering business degree programs.
NSU's bachelor of science in business administration program accommodates distance learners with one of six concentrations, including marketing, entrepreneurship, and international business. Upper-level electives offer students an optional concentration in management.
New students are asked to submit high school or college transcripts and official ACT or SAT codes (ACT 1600 or SAT 6492).
Established in 1931 as a public institution, the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) enrolls more than 7,500 students annually.
ULM offers a bachelor of business administration-management degree through the College of Business and Social Sciences. Distance learners benefit from a fully online program emphasizing effective management practices.
The online curriculum divides the course load into two or three classes with eight-week sessions. Transfer acceptance requires a minimum of a "C" grade in each of college-level English and mathematics.
Reverend Billy Graham served as the second president of the University of Northwestern (UNW) from 1948 to 1952. UNW, established in 1902 as a private Christian institution, now owns a chain of radio stations and enrolls an average of 3,500 students annually.
The bachelor of science business management, one of the fully online degree pursuits, provides 125 credits of core competency coursework. Ministries, communication studies, and psychology minors allow students to customize the curriculum.
New undergraduate applicants submit transcripts along with optional ACT, SAT, or CLT scores for admission consideration. Average scores: GPA 3.5, ACT 24, SAT 1220.
Fort Hays State University, the fourth largest state university in Kansas, accommodates more than 16,000 students annually.
Through its Department of Management, Fort Hays provides an online bachelor of business administration in management degree. Management electives, including entrepreneurship, tourism and hospitality, and retail management, prepare students for careers in logistics or operations management, and management analysis.
Admission requirements include a 2.25 GPA and ACT composite of 21 or higher or SAT ERW+M score of 1080 for incoming first-year students. The same online tuition applies to both in and out-of-state degree candidates.
Online Bachelor's in Business Management Programs Ranking Guidelines
We ranked these degree programs based on quality, curricula, school awards, rankings, and reputation.
The motto of TheBestSchools.org is Finding the best school for you. Here is how we do it:
The value of any ranking list of schools and/or degree programs depends on having a methodologically sound assessment of each school’s/program’s characteristics, especially insofar as these can be objectively measured. A college or university is a complex entity, with numerous factors to consider, and distilling these down to the place where meaningful comparisons can be made to form a defensible ranking list becomes part science and part art.
To meet this challenge—and thereby provide you with the most useful and insightful educational rankings on the Internet — TheBestSchools.org formulates our rankings based on five informational categories (six, when considering online schools). The major metrics and qualities for which we rank are these (with expanded, detailed considerations and weights listed):
1. Academic excellence based on a school’s curriculum generally or within the selected discipline [weight = 25%]
- Weighs school against known leading schools in that discipline
- Weighs number of core curricula listed as advanced courses within that discipline and compares against introductory courses
- Weighs school’s curriculum against known knowledge needs of major employers in that discipline
- Considers number and types of specializations offered within that discipline
- Considers faculty expertise in that discipline
- Considers range of electives within that discipline
- Considers quality of online environment offered to students (if applicable), particularly within that discipline
2. Strength of faculty scholarship [weight = 25%]
- Considers education background of the faculty
- Considers years of faculty experience both inside and outside of academia.
- Considers faculty membership and leadership within relevant, prominent associations
- Considers academic papers published by faculty in relevant, prominent periodicals
- Considers awards and recognitions given to faculty members from prominent organizations and from other sources
3. Reputation [weight = 20%]
- Considers a school’s reputation among academic peers and employers regarding the following:
- Faculty
- Curriculum
- “Freshness” of academic knowledge
- Adaptability to changes in employment sectors
- Suitability of graduates for the workplace
4. Financial aid [weight = 10%]
- Mandatory: Requires full accreditation from an agency endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and listed on the federal register to accept student federal financial aid
- Considers range of school-sponsored financial aid such as scholarships and grants
5. Range of degree programs [weight = 20%]
- Considers range of degree levels: associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral and professional
- Considers range of degree subjects offered, such as art & design, computers & technology, education & teaching, criminal justice, and business
6. Strength of online instruction methodology (if applicable) [weight = 25%; subtract 5% from each of the above for online schools/programs]
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Considers the following of the online classes:
- Types of online technology used to deliver content
- Pedagogy style: asynchronous, synchronous, or both (depending on the degree)
- Extent and quality of the online, community learning environment, including options for communication, interactivity, and collaboration between students and also between students and instructors
- Variety, breadth, and depth of coursework, and its support, including project options and online tutoring
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Considers the following of instructors:
- Extent of training for teaching within an online learning environment
- Amount of timely, consistent feedback to students
- Extent of collaboration with prospective employers to ensure suitability of instructional materials for achieving desired skills
- Ratio to number of students in a class
- Number and quality of internships in a student’s geographical area for applicable degrees
Because students tend to review a variety of information when choosing a school, the weight a student gives any one criterion will vary. For instance, it’s not enough to offer a carefully constructed ranking of great schools if many are too expensive or too difficult to get into.
To better serve the needs of prospective students, we are therefore increasingly offering filters that help you better use our rankings to find the schools that match your specific needs. These supplement our ranking criteria and include:
- Accreditation
- Public or private status
- Acceptance rate
- Retention rate
- Graduation rate
- ACT/SAT requirements
- Cost in-state / out of state
- Undergrad, grad, or both offered
- Region
- State
- City
Get the best rankings here AND get them to suit your personal needs. That’s TheBestSchools.org advantage!
If you have any questions about our ranking methodology, please contact us.
Citations: For a broader account of our ranking methodology, especially as it relates to TheBestSchools.org's underlying educational philosophy and, in other ranking articles, looks beyond academic excellence (as here) to such factors as return on investment or incidental benefit, see our article "Ranking Methodology: How We Rank Schools at TBS." Reputation of schools and degree programs can at least in part be gauged through the school or department's publishing activity, citations, and desirability. At TheBestSchools.org, we keep track of such social and peer validation: "Making Sense of College Rankings." For nuts-and-bolts information about colleges and universities, we look to the National Center for Education Statistics and especially its College Navigator. Insofar as salary and inflation data are relevant to a ranking, we look to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Finally, nothing beats contacting schools and degree programs directly, which our researchers often do, with the result that all the entries in this article should be considered as belonging to this citation!
What Is a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management?
Online bachelor's degrees in business management examine topics like business ethics and law, accounting, economics, marketing, and leadership. Students gain technical business skills while learning to think critically about complex business issues. They also gain leadership, communication, and strategic problem-solving skills.
Some programs may offer concentrations that allow students to tailor the degree to their interests and career goals. Common concentrations include finance, marketing, accounting, supply chain and logistics management, human resource management, and hospitality management.
Graduates with a business degree can pursue careers as entrepreneurs, managers, sales representatives, marketers, and accountants.
How Do I Get a Bachelor of Business Management Degree?
Many entry-level positions in business require at least a bachelor's degree in business or a related field. A bachelor's program typically requires around 120 credits and takes four years of full-time study to complete. However, some programs may offer accelerated timelines that allow students to graduate in less time.
The flexibility of an online bachelor's in business management allows students to balance their studies with personal and professional obligations. Additionally, many online programs allow all students to pay the same tuition rate regardless of where they live. Online programs are ideal for self-motivated, disciplined students with strong time-management skills.
What Is the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB) Accreditation?
Accreditation indicates that a school or program meets high standards with respect to faculty qualifications, student learning outcomes, and academic rigor. Accreditation benefits students in several ways. For example, only students at accredited schools qualify for federal financial aid, and many schools only recognize and accept transfer credits and degrees from accredited institutions. Additionally, many employers prefer to hire candidates with accredited degrees.
Schools may receive regional or national accreditation. Regional accreditation typically applies to nonprofit, degree-granting institutions, while national accreditation applies to for-profit technical and vocational schools. Regional accreditation is generally considered the more prestigious of the two.
Certain programs within a school — such as social work, teaching, and business programs — may also receive accreditation. For instance, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International accredits business programs. The association also offers resources, networking events, professional development opportunities, and publications tailored to business students and graduates.
What Jobs Can I Get With a Business Management Degree?
Graduates with an online business management bachelor's degree can work in diverse roles, such as sales representative or marketing director. The following list outlines several common careers and potential salaries for business graduates.
| Career | Median Annual Salary | Projected Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Services Managers | $96,180 | 7% |
| Marketing Managers | $132,620 | 8% |
| Marketing Consultants | $132,620 | 8% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | $121,010 | 3% |
| Financial Managers | $127,990 | 16% |
| Human Resources Managers | $113,300 | 7% |
| Human Resources Specialists | $60,880 | 5% |
| Management Analysts | $83,610 | 14% |
| Property Managers | $58,340 | 7% |
| Public Relations Managers | $114,800 | 8% |
| Sales Managers | $124,220 | 5% |
| Social and Community Services Managers | $65,320 | 13% |
| Top Executives | $104,980 | 6% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates with a business management degree can work in industries like sales, advertising, accounting, and management. They may work in roles such as financial manager, marketing consultant, and management analyst.
Students can pursue a BA or a BS in business management. Students seeking more technical skills in areas like math and science should pursue a BS, while learners more interested in soft skills, like communication and leadership, should pursue a BA.
A bachelor's degree in business management examines foundational business topics, like financial management, economics, and marketing. The degree trains students to use critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving skills to make strategic business decisions.
Students can typically complete a bachelor's degree in business management in four years of full-time study.
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