Online Business, Management, & MBA Degrees
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that graduates with a bachelor's degree in business disciplines have the highest salaries. Those salaries are even stronger for management positions with MBA degrees. It is normal for an MBA in a management job to earn well over $100,000 in median pay. If earning potential is key in deciding which degree to go for, an MBA is a strong contender!
A few rare prodigies have managed successful businesses without the benefit of training, but for most of us, an MBA degree offers too much advantage to ignore. Learning and practicing skills is only part of a degree; networking and building connections for the future are also important. The numbers tell the story in this case. Check out our article on the ROI of a college degree to learn more.
Business Degree Program Types
How far will you go with your business education? Cost is an important factor for most, but time and the type of knowledge you seek also play a part.
- Associate's Degree (AA/AS)
That will get you into administrative and executive assistant positions, and possibly allow you to progress into office management or human resource management, though bachelor degree programs in those fields have made the associate’s less competitive on the job market.
- Bachelor's Degree (BBA/BSBA)
The main business degrees are Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The bachelor degree is the basic entry-level education for accountants, financial analysts, tax examiners, and other such careers. The bachelor’s degree most often takes 4 to 5 years of full-time education at a college or university.
- Master's Degree (MBA/MiM/MSM)
The traditional standard for business master’s degrees is the Master of Business Administration, and it’s still the most common business master’s. The MBA gives students a broad business education that is typically heavy on economics, accountancy, and theory. But in recent years, a desire for more specialized skills has led to more interest in the Masters in Management and the Master of Science in Management, degree programs that focus specifically on leadership, human resources, and motivation.
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
Like the PhD in other disciplines, is the highest degree in Business Administration and is primarily earned by students who wish to teach at the college level, and/or do academic research.
Online Versus Residential Business Education
Online degrees are available for all levels of business education, from AA, through MBA degrees, and even DBA degrees. Due to the nature of the discipline, most or all of the necessary training can be done remotely, unlike with other degrees where tasks like lab work require special equipment and supervision. Like other online education, though, online business degrees demand that students be self-motivated and comfortable with technology. For the right scholar, this is a small price to pay, allowing unparalleled convenience and flexibility. Students can complete their education at their own pace and in conjunction with a regular work schedule.
Residential degrees tend to offer more opportunities to network with like-minded students and even to meet face-to-face with industry experts. These may be missed opportunities for the online-only student.
Source: ValueColleges