by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2,307 U.S. colleges awarded 352,768 degrees and certificates in General Business Administration and Management. Bachelor’s degrees are the most popular award, at 41% of graduates. College Factual ranks 1,966 schools in its 2027 Best General Business Administration and Management Schools ranking and compares their cost in a Best Value ranking. Graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing, rising to $79,232 after four years.
Studying General Business Administration and Management involves the study of Business Administration And Management, General. A Program That Generally Prepares Individuals To Plan, Organize, Direct, And Control The Functions And Processes Of A Firm Or Organization. Includes Instruction In Management Theory, Human Resources Management And Behavior, Accounting And Other Quantitative Methods, Purchasing And Logistics, Organization And Production, Marketing, And Business Decision-Making. Examples: [General Management], [Business Administration].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, general business administration and management is a widely-pursued major, with 352,768 degrees awarded annually. 2,307 colleges award general business administration and management degrees, an average of 153 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 13,196.
By level, the 352,768 awards include 5,342 certificates, 61,615 associate degrees, 144,312 bachelor’s degrees, 138,542 master’s degrees and 2,455 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of general business administration and management degrees and certificates in the latest year (177,426 of 352,768). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (154,439) and Hispanic or Latino (66,817), and international students earned 18,112.
College Factual ranks 1,966 schools in its 2027 Best General Business Administration and Management Schools ranking, including 706 for associate degrees, 1,206 for bachelor’s degrees, 896 for master’s degrees and 76 for doctorates. It also ranks general business administration and management schools within 54 states. In all, 2,307 colleges offer general business administration and management programs; compare them by degree level below or in the Best Value General Business Administration and Management Colleges ranking, which weighs quality against cost.
The most common general business administration and management credential is the bachelor’s degree: 144,312 of the 352,768 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to general business administration and management call most for Active Listening, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of English Language, Administration and Management and Customer and Personal Service, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Oral Comprehension and Written Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a general business administration and management degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 5,342 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 61,615 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 144,312 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 138,542 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2,455 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to general business administration and management, at 52.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 52.0% |
| Master’s degree | 13.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 7.6% |
| Some college courses | 7.5% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.7% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 3.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.1% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.0% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
30 occupations are related to General Business Administration and Management, with an average median salary of $109,872; the strongest outlook belongs to Sustainability Specialists, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Demand Planner, Logistics Specialist, Plant Manager and Personnel Security Specialist.
The occupation related to general business administration and management with the most projected jobs is Security Management Specialists, at 765,822.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Security Management Specialists | 765,822 | -1.0% |
| Logistics Analysts | 688,094 | 1.5% |
| Logistics Engineers | 687,152 | 13.4% |
| Business Continuity Planners | 678,409 | 12.4% |
| Online Merchants | 677,689 | 10.1% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 615,875 | -1.7% |
| Sustainability Specialists | 564,227 | 14.3% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
General Business Administration and Management graduates earn a median $63,256 one year after completing their program, $79,232 after four years and $73,412 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $63,256 |
| 4 years | $79,232 |
| 5 years | $73,412 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to general business administration and management is Personal Service Managers, All Other, with a median salary of $176,674.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | $146,025 |
| Training and Development Managers | $139,524 |
| Chief Executives | $138,534 |
General Business Administration and Management has 15 similar majors in the Business, Management & Marketing field, which together award 68,984 degrees a year; the largest are Organizational Leadership (16,833), Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other (12,704) and Operations Management and Supervision (11,915). Browse all Business, Management & Marketing majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Organizational Leadership | 16,833 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other | 12,704 |
| Operations Management and Supervision | 11,915 |
| Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management | 11,775 |
| Project Management | 6,038 |
| Office Management and Supervision | 2,975 |
| Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management | 2,443 |
| Retail Management | 1,363 |
| Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management | 805 |
| Transportation/Mobility Management | 506 |
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