by our College Data Analytics Team
[Business Administration And Management](/majors/business-management-marketing-sales/business-administration-and-management/) programs reward a close look at where graduates go on to earn the most. The highest-paying schools turn a business administration and management degree into the strongest early-career earnings.
For its 2026 highest-paid-graduates ranking, College Factual looked at 100 schools to find where business administration and management graduates earn the most.
What’s on this page:
Below are the schools whose business administration and management graduates go on to earn the most.
Northwestern University earned the #1 spot for highest-paid business administration and management graduates in the Great Lakes Region. Northwestern University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Evanston. After graduating, business administration and management degree recipients from Northwestern University typically earn about $227,307 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Chicago earned it the #2 place for business administration and management. University Of Chicago is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Chicago. Early-career business administration and management graduates from University Of Chicago make a median of around $231,911 per year.
A rank of #3 makes University Of Michigan Ann Arbor one of the highest-paying schools for business administration and management. University Of Michigan Ann Arbor is a public school located in the city of Ann Arbor. After graduating, business administration and management degree recipients from University Of Michigan Ann Arbor typically earn about $176,976 annually.
Students chasing top earnings in business administration and management will find them at Moraine Valley Community College, which ranked #4. Set in the suburb of Palos Hills, Moraine Valley Community College is a public institution. After graduating, business administration and management degree recipients from Moraine Valley Community College typically earn about $66,545 annually.
Strong graduate earnings at University Of Wisconsin Madison earned it the #5 place for business administration and management. Located in the city of Madison, University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Madison earn a median of about $92,203 a year early in their careers.
Harper College landed the #6 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Set in the suburb of Palatine, Harper College is a public institution. After graduating, business administration and management degree recipients from Harper College typically earn about $59,982 annually.
Michigan State University ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying business administration and management schools. Set in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. After graduating, business administration and management degree recipients from Michigan State University typically earn about $101,460 annually.
Miami University Oxford earned the #8 position for business administration and management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Oxford, Miami University Oxford is a public institution. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $113,297.
Purdue University Main Campus landed the #9 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Purdue University Main Campus is a public school located in the city of West Lafayette. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $90,107.
Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management landed the #10 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management is a private not-for-profit institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of Lake Forest Graduate School Of Management earn a median of about $154,991 a year early in their careers.
Mchenry County College earned the #11 position for business administration and management graduate earnings this year. Mchenry County College is a public school located in the rural area of Crystal Lake. Business Administration And Management graduates of Mchenry County College earn a median of about $59,490 a year early in their careers.
Ohio State University Main Campus landed the #12 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Set in the city of Columbus, Ohio State University Main Campus is a public institution. Early-career business administration and management graduates from Ohio State University Main Campus make a median of around $116,874 per year.
University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign ranked #13 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying business administration and management schools. Located in the city of Champaign, University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign is a public institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of University Of Illinois At Urbana Champaign earn a median of about $137,958 a year early in their careers.
Marquette University came in at #14 for business administration and management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Milwaukee, Marquette University is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $123,127.
Grand Valley State University placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for business administration and management. Set in the town of Allendale, Grand Valley State University is a public institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of Grand Valley State University earn a median of about $83,452 a year early in their careers.
Lakeland Community College landed the #16 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Located in the suburb of Kirtland, Lakeland Community College is a public institution. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $53,036.
Ball State University earned the #17 position for business administration and management graduate earnings this year. Ball State University is a public school located in the city of Muncie. Early-career business administration and management graduates from Ball State University make a median of around $77,414 per year.
Loyola University Chicago ranked #18 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying business administration and management schools. Set in the city of Chicago, Loyola University Chicago is a private not-for-profit institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of Loyola University Chicago earn a median of about $103,973 a year early in their careers.
Butler University came in at #19 for business administration and management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of Indianapolis, Butler University is a private not-for-profit institution. Business Administration And Management graduates of Butler University earn a median of about $115,979 a year early in their careers.
University Of Michigan Dearborn ranked #20 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying business administration and management schools. Set in the city of Dearborn, University Of Michigan Dearborn is a public institution. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $119,486.
Oakland University placed #21 among the highest-paying schools for business administration and management. Oakland University is a public school located in the suburb of Rochester Hills. Early-career business administration and management graduates from Oakland University make a median of around $112,409 per year.
Xavier University landed the #22 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. Located in the city of Cincinnati, Xavier University is a private not-for-profit institution. Early-career business administration and management graduates from Xavier University make a median of around $122,637 per year.
Kettering University placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for business administration and management. Kettering University is a private not-for-profit school located in the city of Flint. Business Administration And Management graduates of Kettering University earn a median of about $123,250 a year early in their careers.
University Of Illinois At Chicago ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying business administration and management schools. Located in the city of Chicago, University Of Illinois At Chicago is a public institution. Students who complete the business administration and management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $132,305.
University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh landed the #25 spot for business administration and management salaries this year. University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh is a public school located in the city of Oshkosh. Business Administration And Management graduates of University Of Wisconsin Oshkosh earn a median of about $88,405 a year early in their careers.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid business administration and management ranking:
Also worth considering for earnings in business administration and management:
| Rank | College | Location | Avg Salary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #51 | Saint Xavier University | Chicago, IL | $101,722 | Full Report |
| #52 | Milwaukee School Of Engineering | Milwaukee, WI | $60,187 | Full Report |
| #53 | Mount Mary College | Milwaukee, WI | $77,653 | Full Report |
| #54 | Wisconsin Lutheran College | Milwaukee, WI | $70,991 | Full Report |
This ranking is produced by College Factual, 2026 edition. The methodology measures the salaries business administration and management graduates go on to earn early in their careers, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 100 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.