Guide to Top Business Education Online Degrees
Below is a list of highly-recommended schools offering online business degrees. The search widget on the left or further downcan be used to find even more colleges offering business degrees or other related degrees that may interest you. Fill out the “Request Information” form with the links provided to receive free information about each school.
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1) What Types of Online Business Education Degrees Exist and What are They Called?
It doesn’t matter if you are looking to get an associate’s degree or graduate education, there are hundreds of online business education degrees to choose from, and a few are listed below.
- Associate of Arts in Accounting (AA in Account.): Learn the numbers side of business with the help of this two year degree.
- Associate of Business Administration (ABA): The popularity of the business administration degree has grown so much that they are even offered at the associate level and in several concentrations.
- Associate of Applied Science in Business Administration (AAS in BA): Similar to the above, the core classes of this degree tend to focus on the applicable aspects of business administration.
- Advanced Start Bachelor of Science: Although a bachelor’s degree generally takes four years to earn, an advanced start degree can have you earning it in about three years, depending on the school and offers loads of online business options.
- Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA): This degree is the four year equivalent of an MBA and can be earned in specialties such as accounting, project management, and sales.
- Bachelor of Science of Business Administration (BSBA): Another four year business degree, this one also focuses on business administration and includes more of the sciences as part of its core classes.
- Master of Business Administration (MBA): One of the most popular of online business education options, the MBA is a two year graduate degree that comes in dozens of concentrations including entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, and many others.
- Masters in Business and Management (MBM): Learn both the practice of business and management in this master’s degree.
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA): If a doctorate level degree is part of your online business education, be sure and research the DBA degree. Also increasing in popularity, it also teaches advanced topics such as global operations, business intelligence, and strategy.
- Doctor of Philosophy in Management (PhD in Man.): This degree prepares its students for leadership roles in business, organizations, corporations, public service, or others.
And the above are just some of the degrees available in online business education. They are also offered to students looking to attend school in-person or through a combination of both on-campus or online curriculum.
2) Where Can I Find Online Business Education Rankings?
Although school rankings have been around for a while and many students use them to help pick out a school, they should not be the only factor when choosing an online business education. Items such as available financial aid, flexible classes, transfer credit policy, and more are all an important part of an education and should also be weighed when choosing a business school.
If still in need to research business school rankings, visit a site like U.S. News & World Report. Each year, they list the best in colleges and even have a section for best graduate business schools. Choose from specialties like accounting, finance, information systems, and marketing. They also feature an option to search exclusively for online programs in business education.
If looking for someone who ranks undergraduate business schools, try Bloomberg. They ranked the top 20 business schools by which landed their students the most jobs even in a rough economy. You can also use the huge site to get loads of other business related resources.
To get rankings for international business schools, try the experts at Financial Times. There you will find the top business education programs in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and more. They also offer charts, a directory, and even a profiler.
3) Can I Transfer Online Business Education Credits?
One of the key factors to obtaining transfer credits is accreditation. Given out by the U.S. Department of Education, they recognize schools that provide an acceptable education in exchange for tuition. To find out if your past or future school is accredited, simply visit their Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs. Along with whether or not the school is accredited, they also show which agency it has been accredited by, which is important when seeking transfer credits.
One of the most common obstacles when obtaining transfer credits is the issue of nationally accredited online business education schools versus regionally accredited ones. Although they are both accredited, different agencies have done the accrediting, making transfer credits less likely. If denied transfer credits, students may have to retake classes, which cost both money and time. This is why it is important to learn your past, present, or future school’s transfer credit policy as soon as possible before making a decision on where to get an online business education.
One of the best ways to avoid the hassles of transfer credits is to already have a degree from an accredited school. If switching to an online business education program that is nationally accredited and your degree is from a school that is regionally accredited or vice versa, many schools will still allow students to begin advanced studies for a degree. For example, those who have an associate’s degree can take only two years to get a bachelor’s degree. Those who already have a qualifying bachelor’s degree can get a master’s degree or MBA in as little as two years. Those with a master’s degree who are seeking a doctorate degree or DBA can also take only two years to earn one.
4) What Sorts of Careers are Common With an Online Business Education?
There are literally thousands of careers available to someone with an online business education and just a few can be found below.
- Staff Accountant – Manage the numbers of a business including budget, income, expenses, and much more.
- Business Analyst – Use knowledge of information technology to create and analyze business models.
- Human Resources Manager – These managers lead in the hiring, compensation, and training of employees.
- General Manager – Manage an entire department or staff with this position.
- Financial Analyst – Also known as a securities or investment analyst, they provide an understanding of the financial status of a given investment opportunity.
- Owner/Operator Small Business – Sick of working for someone else? Use your online business education to start and operate your own business.
- Financial Controller – Many given business opportunities in finance are the focus of this career.
- Office Manager – This business career is charged with the day to day running of a branch or the entire office.
- Marketing Director – Run the entire marketing department including sales, promotions, advertising, and much more.
- Chief Executive Officer – Run the entire company as CEO from the front desk to board meetings in this high level executive career.
Although years of experience are an important factor in finding a career, an online business education can also be an important part to getting hired, promoted, or even starting your own business.
5) How do I Get an Online Business Education?
The first step to getting any college degree is to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Getting into an online business education program also requires students to fill out applications, submit test scores and transcripts, and even answer essays or take part in an interview. Online business education programs also have options for those who already have a collegiate level degree or courses completed to begin their studies at more advanced levels.
Once accepted into an online business education program, the number of years it takes to complete depends on the type of degree chosen. An associate level degree takes an average of two years to complete for those who have a high school education, while a bachelor’s degree averages four years to finish. Transfer credits, advanced start degrees, and summer semesters all allow students to finish an online business education program ahead of time.
Those looking to get a graduate degree from an online business education program are usually required to have a bachelor’s degree, although it does not necessarily have to be in business. Entering a graduate program also requires an application, essay, test scores, transcripts, etc. Once accepted, getting a master’s degree in business or MBA takes an average of two years. Doctorate level degrees such as a DBA or PhD in Management take an average of four years of graduate school to obtain.
6) What is the Average Salary of Someone With an Online Business Education?
The average salary of someone with an online business education depends greatly on the type of position they take, along with the level they are hired at. One of the most detailed sources of average salary information is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A quick visit to the Management and Business and Financial Occupations section offers tons of links on salary information for everyone from administrative managers to top executives.
If looking to get average salary information by type of business degree, there is Payscale. They currently have a list of several careers available with a Bachelor of Business Administration, as well as salary information. Some of the samples included staff accountant with an average annual salary of $44,111, human resources manager at $60,485 per year, and general manager with an average annual salary of $64,097.
They also offer a listing of average annual salaries for those with a Master of Business Administration degree. Even some of the lower paying careers, such as marketing manager and senior financial analyst, still had impressive average annual salaries of $74,338 and $73,316, respectively. Other careers available with an MBA included marketing director, with an average annual salary of $111,849, and chief executive officer, with $158,224 in average annual salary.
To research specific careers and their average salaries, simply type in the name of the job and search by salary using parameters such as years of experience, employer type, location, and even education. Samples include Financial Analyst ($53,642 average salary), Business Analyst ($65,858 average salary), and Small Business Owner/Operator ($69,623 average salary).
7) Where Can I Find Online Business Education Scholarships and Grants?
To help pay for an online business education, we have listed a few scholarships and grants below.
- FAFSA: Students looking to get any form of financial aid will be required to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and turn it in. Be sure to do so for every year studied to get the maximum funding possible.
- The Business School Scholarship Guide: If you have any questions about what a scholarship is or how to get it, this free guide offers a practical game plan for those trying to track down and win scholarships in business.
- NBA Scholarships: The National Business Association offers scholarships to high school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who are dependent sons and daughters of NBA dues-paying members.
- GFOA Scholarships: The Government Finance Officers Association encourages the pursuit of careers in government finance and management by offering internships, scholarships, and other forms of aid.
- ASBO Int. Scholarships: Visit the Association of School Business Officials International to learn more about available scholarships and the Bridges to the Future program.
- AMAF Scholarships: The American Marketing Association Foundation currently offers three scholarships in business, as well as several grants.
- AWSCPA Scholarships and Awards: The American Woman’s Society of Certified Public Accountants offers individual and affiliate awards, as well as scholarships on the national, affiliate, and educational level.
- NSA Scholarships: Another opportunity for those looking for a business education in accounting, the National Society of Accountants provides scholarships to undergraduates at the two or four year level.
- RBPA Scholarship: The Rainbow Business and Professional Association benefits deserving students by granting scholarships to individuals enrolled in an accredited program.
- Tuition Reimbursement: A sort of scholarship from your current employer, this guide shows you how to take advantage of a company tuition reimbursement policy along with stipulations and tips.
If still in search of ways to pay for an online business education, be sure to visit the financial aid office of your current or future school. They can assist you in filling out the FAFSA and other forms at no charge. They can also help by connecting you to available opportunities offered locally or even by the school itself. The financial aid office can also answer any questions about student loans, work for study, or other available forms of funding.