What Can I Do With a Degree in Business Administration?

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, two million bachelor’s degrees were conferred in the United States in the 2018–2019 academic year. While more than half of the majors were in just six fields of study, business was the most popular major, comprising 19 percent of all total degrees conferred.

Echoing national trends, nearly 8 percent of the Seaver College class of 2021 graduated with a degree in business administration, making it the most popular major among the graduating class. Studying business administration prepares students for a variety of careers, including those in accounting, business, finance, management, and marketing. Explore below to see what you can do with a degree in business administration.  

Financial Advisor

Ranked as the fourth-best business job in 2021 by U.S. News & World Report, financial advisors help their clients better understand their assets, liabilities, and income so that they can make informed financial decisions. They help clients set and reach their financial goals and offer investment advice by examining clients’ risk tolerance and capacity. 

While the path to becoming a financial advisor may not look identical from one advisor to the next, it often begins with an undergraduate degree in business administration. Beyond graduation, students should aim to get internship experience and be prepared to pass exams to earn appropriate licenses and certifications. 

Accountant

Although accountants do a variety of activities, most are responsible for preparing financial records and ensuring taxes are paid on time. They keep records up to date and ensure that their clients’ financial transactions are reflected accurately and adhere to applicable laws. 

Beyond possessing a degree in accounting or business, successful accountants are experienced in data entry and accounting software, demonstrate analytical skills, and have an advanced knowledge of spreadsheets. 

Economist

Economists conduct research, collect and analyze data, and evaluate economic issues. They also forecast consumer demand and analyze their competitors’ growth. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for economists is expected to grow by 13 percent within the next decade.  

A growing number of economist positions require an advanced degree. Economists serve a key role in fields such as the environment, health, and education and specialize in a variety of services including interest and exchange rates, taxes, and market trends. 

Business Operations Manager

Business operations pertain to what it takes to make a company run efficiently, including office equipment, employees, and business processes. Business operations managers are responsible for determining budgets for equipment and technology, negotiating with external vendors, and analyzing and improving current processes. 

In addition to a business degree, good management skills help most business operations managers succeed regardless of their organization’s size. 

Marketing Manager

According to a report conducted by LinkedIn, marketing roles are in greater demand than ever. With a 63 percent  growth in marketing jobs in 2021, marketing managers are highly sought after. Marketing manager roles are generally responsible for developing, implementing, and measuring marketing campaigns and advertising. A successful marketing manager enhances brand awareness, generates sales leads, and increases traffic to a company’s digital and social presence. 

A degree in marketing can successfully prepare one for a career in the field, but other undergraduate degrees can also be valuable for that purpose. A degree in business administration for example, can help students apply marketing principles and practices through a collection of data and strategic alternatives. 

Actuary

If statistics and numbers are your favorite past times, you might want to consider a career as an actuary. Actuaries calculate the probability of risks and share the data with insurance companies to create appropriate insurance rates. Risk factors for earthquakes, unemployment, and accidents are just a few of the events they assess. 

While actuaries and accountants both measure financial data and statistics, accountants primarily work with individuals and organizations, while the majority of actuaries work in the insurance industry. 

Chief Executive Officer

Chief executive officers (CEOs) are responsible for the overall success of an organization. They lead the development of long-term strategies, ensure the organization’s mission is being upheld, set strategic goals, and ensure stakeholders’ interests are being met. 

While the path to becoming a CEO varies depending on the size and nature of the organization, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration is a good place to start. Beyond educational requirements, a successful CEO has years of managerial experience, and strong decision-making and time-management skills. 

The list above, though not comprehensive, represents the array of career choices to those who earn a degree in business administration. Visit the business administration careers page to explore more career options and see where Seaver College alumni currently work.