The Best Online Bachelor's in Business Management 2020

Massachusetts' flagship postsecondary institution and a major research university, the University of Massachusetts enrolls more than 30,000 students each year. The school offers 109 bachelor's programs, including an online bachelor of business administration administered through the UMass Amherst Isenberg School of Management.

This student-centered program features top-ranked faculty and a tradition of leadership that prepares learners to advance their careers or change professions. The 120-credit degree includes general education credits as well as school and major requirements. Core business management classes include principles of financial accounting, business data analysis, and introduction to operations management.

Business administration students can major in one of the following subdisciplines to tailor the degree to their professional interests and goals: accounting, management, finance, operations and information management, and marketing.

Admissions requirements include at least 27 transferable credits or one year of undergraduate study. The Isenberg School of Management typically admits students with a minimum 3.0 GPA, but evaluates applicants on criteria beyond academic achievement as well, including military and life experience. Students must submit a personal statement and official transcripts from all prior colleges. Learners who take six credits per semester typically qualify for financial aid.

Founded by a Baptist minister in 1884, Temple University enrolls 40,000 students each year. The public research university delivers dozens of undergraduate and graduate degrees through 17 specialized schools and colleges.

The Fox School of Business offers a flexible, online bachelor of business administration that includes university, college, and major requirements. The program requires business management courses like business communications, research methods in business, and professional development strategies. The customizable degree offers six specializations: accounting, business management, human resource management, legal studies in business, marketing, and supply chain management.

The program offers multiple start dates throughout the year. Students can choose from traditional 15-week semesters; dual, accelerated, six-week summer sessions; or dual, accelerated, seven-week terms in the fall and spring. Classes include asynchronous lectures, live interactions, videos, and assignments.

All distance learners pay the same tuition rate regardless of residency. Students with a 3.3 GPA or higher typically qualify for financial aid. Students can access a professional development center, library resources, and individualized academic advising. Admissions requirements include a well-rounded academic record, SAT or ACT scores, a 250-word essay, and a description of extracurricular activities.

The largest public research institution in Virginia, George Mason University generated $149 million in sponsored research expenditures in 2018. The school serves more than 37,000 students through over 200 degree programs. The online BS in management degree prepares students for professional management, leadership, and entrepreneurial roles. Students gain skills in negotiation, diverse workforce management, and strategic thinking.

The 120-credit degree includes general education, business foundation, business core, general elective, and management courses. The program also requires a three-credit capstone. Students take business management classes like business analytics, business and society, and developing professional skills. Mason accepts transfer credit from regionally accredited colleges for many general education and business foundation courses, but students must complete at least 30 credits at Mason.

Application requirements include official transcripts, SAT or ACT scores, letters of recommendation, and documentation of extracurricular activities. Students can also submit an optional 250-word personal statement. Transfer applicants with 24 or more transferable credits do not need to submit SAT or ACT scores.

A public research university that hosts 29,000 students annually, Auburn University offers 140 majors through 13 schools and colleges. AU's Harbert College of Business provides a completely online bachelor of science in business administration degree-completion program. The program focuses on the functional aspects of business, including management, marketing, accounting, and finance.

The 60-credit program requires 22 courses and takes two years of full-time study to complete. Students take two 7.5-week courses per term, with five terms each year. The asynchronous program offers business management classes like principles of financial accounting, introduction to management information systems, and business processes and internal controls. Support services for distance learners include an assigned student success coordinator and a new online student orientation.

The school practices rolling admissions, inviting applications throughout the year. Admissions requirements include 60 general education credits. Students must complete prerequisite classes like English composition, world history, and calculus. Applicants must hold a minimum 2.5 GPA and submit official college transcripts. The program offers start dates in the fall, spring, and summer.

A public research university founded in 1889, the University of New Mexico awarded $59 million in scholarships in 2018. UNM offers more than 20 online undergraduate and graduate programs. UNM's Anderson School of Management offers an accelerated, online bachelor of business administration degree-completion program with a general management concentration.

The 120-credit program includes 31 core business management, 12 concentration, three upper-division humanities, and about 34 free-elective credits. The core curriculum includes coursework in accounting, organizational management, marketing, business law, finance, and ethics. UNM may accept transfer credit from other accredited colleges toward general education requirements. Students must complete at least 30 credits in residence at UNM.

Applicants need 40 credits of bachelor's of business administration pre-admission courses with a cumulative 2.5 GPA. They must also submit official transcripts from all previously attended colleges. Admitted students must attend an orientation and meet with an academic advisor before enrolling in classes.

A public flagship university, Oregon State University hosts more than 200 academic programs and enrolls 27,000 students each year, including over 7,400 online students. Oregon State offers 180-credit, online BA and BS in business administration programs that teach students how to overcome complicated business challenges.

Available entirely online, the programs also offer optional on-campus opportunities for students who live in or near Portland. Students take business management classes like managing individual and team performance, financial planning, and the principles of marketing. Learners can customize the degree through specialties like supply chain and logistics management, digital marketing, retail management, and hospitality management.

The program offers four start dates a year. Students must complete at least 45 of their last 75 credits in residence at Oregon State. Graduates can pursue careers in human resources, management, market research, finance, and training. OSU's career success center offers support for business administration students and alumni.

A public research institution established in 1804, Ohio University boasts a 17-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio, more than 500 student organizations, and 250 academic programs. Designed for associate degree-holders, Ohio's bachelor of science in applied management helps students start or advance their careers in management.

Offered through Regional Higher Education, this online program explores topics like financial statement analysis, project management, employee supervision, and budget creation. Students must meet university general education, major, and elective requirements. Core classes include managing systems and projects, foundations of financial management, and managing strategically in the future.

Students must maintain a minimum 2.0 GPA in all applied management classes to graduate. Graduates can pursue entry-level management positions or graduate study.

Admissions requirements include an associate degree or 60 transferable credits from a regionally accredited college with a minimum 2.0 GPA. Applicants must submit an essay and official transcripts. Ohio also accepts supplemental materials like letters of recommendation, portfolios, and documentation of extracurricular activities.

One of the most culturally and ethnically diverse universities in the U.S., the University of Illinois at Chicago enrolls 33,000 students through 16 colleges. The online bachelor of business administration degree-completion program is designed for learners with an associate degree or 60 undergraduate credits.

The 60-credit curriculum covers foundational business operations topics. Students gain critical thinking, leadership, data analysis, and problem-solving skills. The curriculum includes classes like introduction to management information systems, introduction to financial accounting, and business and its external environment.

Business administration students participate in a cohort, enrolling in a prescribed sequence of eight-week courses with the same classmates until graduation. The program lets students rearrange their course order if they cannot participate in a session due to work or personal reasons. Students have access to career advising, technical support, academic advising, and financial aid opportunities.

Admissions requirements for the online BBA program include at least 60 transferable credits and a minimum 2.5 GPA. Applicants must also submit official transcripts.

One of the oldest land-grant institutions in the West, Washington State University boasted $360.5 million in research and development expenditures in 2018. WSU's Carson College of Business offers a fully online business management degree that prepares students to lead successful organizations.

The 120-credit BA in business administration with a management major teaches students how to motivate employees, make strategic plans, and anticipate business changes. The fully accredited program includes experienced faculty who provide career advice and mentorship to students. Core courses include principles of management and organization, introduction to financial management, and business strategy and policy.

Management students choose from two tracks: innovation change or human resource management. The innovation change track explores business intelligence, corporate responsibility, and leadership. The human resource management track focuses on hiring, evaluating, and rewarding human capital. Both tracks require a six-credit international experience, which students can fulfill through an internship, approved coursework, or study abroad experience.

Before they can become business majors, learners must earn at least 60 credits, hold a cumulative 2.5 GPA, and complete eight prerequisite courses with a minimum 2.5 GPA.

A top-ranked private research institution, Drexel University emphasizes civic engagement and experiential learning. Distance learners can choose from more than 150 online degrees that feature instruction from the same qualified faculty who teach on campus.

Offered through the Lebow College of Business, the accredited, online BS in business administration examines business operations and practices, emphasizing math and analytical skills. Students can choose the general business track or they can specialize in marketing. The general business major provides a broad business education, while the marketing major focuses on marketing topics, like product management and customer analytics.

All students take core classes like introduction to business statistics, introduction to marketing management, and strategy and competitive advantage. The 180-credit degree features four 10-week quarters each year.

The program accepts up to 120 quarter transfer credits (or 80 semester credits) with a grade of 'C' or better. Transfer applicants need at least 23 prior credits with a minimum 2.5 GPA. First-year students who have been out of high school for at least two years can also apply. Graduates can pursue careers as business analysts, human resources managers, and market research analysts.

Founded in 1897, San Diego State University is one of the oldest schools in the California State University system. SDSU offers 197 undergraduate and graduate programs and enrolls nearly 34,000 students each year. The Fowler College of Business offers an online BS in business administration degree-completion program that requires 44-55 credits, depending on a student's writing proficiency.

Designed for working professionals, the program offers small classes, a flexible schedule, and two start dates each year. Full-time students take four classes each term, focusing on only two at a time during eight-week blocks. Learners explore topics like information systems, accounting, marketing, and finance. Required classes include international business strategy and integration, ethical decision-making in business, and intermediate managerial and tax accounting.

Applicants need at least 60 transferable semester credits (or 90 quarter credits) and a minimum 2.75 GPA. Applicants also need completed general education and business prerequisite courses.

A private, Catholic university founded in 1898 by the Vincentians, DePaul University offers more than 300 undergraduate and graduate programs. DePaul's BA in professional studies with a business administration major gives students foundational business knowledge and career-relevant skills.

Designed for working adults aged 24 and older, the program explores issues like data analytics, professional communication, ethical decision-making, and project management. The 192-credit degree includes 78 core, 70 major, and 44 open elective requirements. Students take business management courses like effective leadership in a changing professional environment, accounting and finance principles, and risk management in the workplace.

The fully online program features an accelerated schedule, affordable tuition, and a structured path to completion. Graduates can work in nonprofit and corporate settings in administrative, supervisory, and managerial positions or apply to graduate programs. The transfer-friendly program accepts credits from regionally accredited colleges and awards credit for personal and professional experiences. Applicants must submit official transcripts. Students can begin on one of four start dates per year.

A private, Catholic research university established in 1870, Loyola University Chicago boasts more than 80 undergraduate majors and 80 minors. Designed for working adults, Loyola's fully online BA in management emphasizes applied management, ethical leadership, and critical thinking skills. Students who live near campus can attend some classes in person. Graduates qualify for business management jobs like administrative services manager, training and development manager, and human resources manager.

The 39-credit curriculum requires 13 major classes. Business management courses feature an accelerated, eight-week format and may include synchronous and asynchronous meetings. Management majors take classes like accounting principles and application, law and regulations for organizational leaders, and leadership theories and applications. Students can transfer up to 18 credits toward the degree.

Applicants must submit transcripts from all previously attended postsecondary institutions and hold a minimum 2.0 GPA. The program offers five start dates per year. Graduates accepted into the school's master of business administration program can waive up to four graduate courses, reducing the time and cost required to earn an MBA.

A public research university, Bowling Green State University offers hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs and a 9-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio. BGSU's fully online BS in business administration prepares students to think critically and pursue business leadership positions.

The 122-credit program includes general education and core business courses. Students can also pursue one of 14 specializations to customize the degree to their interests and goals. Available specializations include accounting, applied economics, business analytics and intelligence, information systems auditing and control, and supply chain management. Each specialization requires 18-27 additional credits.

Regardless of their specialization, all students take classes like understanding dynamics of business, business analytics: quantitative analysis for business applications, and predictive analysis. Business administration majors learn to identify solutions to business problems, use common software applications, write documents, and make ethical business decisions. Students gain practical experience through three active-learning lab courses.

Admission requirements include general admission to BGSU, completion of at least 12 credits that count toward the degree, a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA, and completion of prerequisite courses with a 'C' grade or better.

A top-ranked, private university founded in the Church of Christ, Pepperdine University delivers faith-based education to undergraduate and graduate students. Students can choose from 73 degree programs across five schools. Pepperdine's Graziadio Business School offers a 120-credit, online bachelor of science in management degree-completion program.

Designed for working professionals with at least 60 transferable credits, the 48-60-credit program emphasizes leadership skills, preparing students for management positions. The curriculum includes classes like statistical methods for business, managing diversity in organizations, and business ethics. Students can earn the business management degree in two years of full-time study or pursue an accelerated MBA or master of science at Pepperdine for one additional year, saving time and money on a graduate degree.

Prospective students must hold at least 60 transferable undergraduate credits or an associate degree from a regionally accredited university. Prior classes must include three semesters of English composition and three semesters of algebra or higher with a grade of 'C' or better. Applicants also need professional work experience.

Florida International University is a public research institution that boasts $200 million in annual research expenditures. The school offers more than 190 degree programs, including the online BBA in management from the R. Kirk Landon Undergraduate School of Business, which emphasizes organizational management, exploring topics like professional communication, strategic leadership, and legal issues in business.

The fully online degree teaches students how to analyze business challenges, make effective decisions, and improve efficiency for organizations. The 120-credit curriculum includes business management courses like introduction to information systems management, applied business statistics, and the legal environment for business. The program also explores topics like happiness at work, entrepreneurship, and business plans.

Applicants must complete prerequisite business pre-core and common core classes and hold a minimum 2.5 GPA. Application requirements include official college transcripts, a completed application, and an application fee. Applicants with fewer than 60 transfer credits must also submit official high school transcripts and ACT or SAT scores.

A Christian, liberal arts institution established in 1883, Houghton College hosts nine online programs in areas like education, criminal justice, and management, including a fully online BS in organizational management. The program examines topics like teamwork, strategic business decision-making, and improving organizational performance.

The 124-credit degree includes 36 general education, 37 organizational management major, and 51 elective credits. Required courses include human resources management, work team dynamics, and fundamentals of management. The program does not require tests; instead, students apply classroom learning to professional challenges. Students can transfer up to 87 credits toward the degree.

The flexible, asynchronous program features eight-week classes. Learners can attend the program part time or full time. Graduates qualify for administrative and supervisory careers in diverse industries. Houghton offers rolling admissions. Application requirements include a personal statement, letter of recommendation, and official transcripts.

Founded in 1907, East Carolina University serves more than 28,000 students. The university offers 84 bachelor's programs, including an online bachelor of science in business administration degree-completion program with a concentration in management.

The 120-credit degree includes general education, business core, leadership and professional development, concentration, and general elective requirements. ECU's leadership and professional development credits connect students with local business leaders and prepare them for practical challenges. Students take business management courses on topics like cultural environment of international business, operations and supply chain management, and business decision-making.

Graduates of the business management program can pursue managerial and supervisory positions in diverse industries. The university's student success center provides individualized academic advising and career services for management majors. Applicants need a minimum 2.0 GPA. Before enrolling in upper-division courses, learners must complete at least 45 credits, hold a minimum 2.5 GPA, and complete eight prerequisite classes with a grade of 'C-' or better.

A private, Jesuit Catholic institution established in 1904, Loyola University New Orleans offers on-campus and online programs in the liberal arts and sciences. Loyno's accredited, online bachelor of business administration prepares students for leadership roles in diverse industries. The curriculum explores topics like marketing, finance, economics, and accounting. Students gain interpersonal negotiation, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.

The 120-credit program includes 48 business core, 24 major, 39 general education, six elective, and three business internship credits. Students take business management courses like advanced business communication, process and project management, and entrepreneurship.

All students must create a business portfolio, which consists of four sequential, non-credit classes that help students develop professional skills. Each portfolio session lasts 15 weeks and explores topics like building a personal brand, internship preparation, resume and cover letter writing, and networking.

Graduates can pursue careers like business services coordinator, project manager, and entrepreneur. Admissions requirements include a high school diploma or GED. Applicants under the age of 22 also need to submit ACT or SAT scores.

Oregon's most affordable public research university, Portland State University serves 27,000 learners each year. One of about 30 colleges in the world designated as a "changemaker campus," PSU delivers an environmentally responsible and socially conscious education. The online bachelor of business management and leadership degree-completion program offers start dates every quarter. Students work with a dedicated academic advisor to create a plan of study that meets their career goals.

The 180-credit curriculum includes business management courses like human resources management, organization design and change, and contemporary leadership issues. Online learners interact with classmates and instructors in real time through PSU's interactive online platform. The program prepares graduates for leadership positions in diverse industries.

Applicants must complete pre-business coursework to receive admission into the program. General university admissions requirements include a high school diploma, a minimum 3.0 GPA, ACT or SAT scores, and 15 units of college preparatory work with a grade of 'C-' or better.

One of the oldest Catholic postsecondary institutions in the United States, Saint Francis University emphasizes Franciscan values. The university delivers affordable, fully online degrees for undergraduate and graduate students in business, education, healthcare, and human services, including a BS in organizational leadership.

Designed for adults with work experience and prior college credit, the 128-credit degree includes business core, liberal studies, and free elective requirements. Students can pursue an optional minor through electives. The transfer-friendly degree-completion program accepts up to 98 transfer credits toward the degree.

The curriculum combines a strong business core with liberal arts coursework, emphasizing successful change implementation and employee motivation strategies. Students take core business management classes like quantitative business analysis, production and operations management, and writing and communicating in business. The program also offers an optional concentration in aviation, which lets organizational leadership majors earn a pilot's license while pursuing the degree.

Saint Francis practices rolling admissions, accepting applications year-round. Students can begin on one of multiple start dates per year. Applicants must submit official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions. Graduates can work as administrative support coordinators, human resources generalists, and managers of finance and administrative services.

Established in 1936, the University of Alabama at Birmingham has an interdisciplinary approach to education. The university boasts 10 business-related distance education programs through its Collat School of Business, including an online BS in management. The fully online program features award-winning faculty, 24/7 technical assistance, networking opportunities, and scholarships open to qualified candidates. Graduates qualify for leadership roles such as operations manager, management consultant, and human resources manager.

The curriculum explores topics like the theory and practice of management, employment law, leadership strategies, and organizational dynamics. Students take classes in human resource management, managing through leadership, and employment law. Students also complete a three-credit strategic management capstone and a business internship.

Students can begin on one of three start dates per year. Applicants must submit official transcripts and ACT or SAT scores, except for transfer students, who only need to submit transcripts. The university evaluates applicants using a holistic approach and accepts transfer credits from regionally accredited institutions.