Management
Chief Executives
- Median pay
- $213,990
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
ProgramsBusiness, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Business Administration, Management and Operations
CIP52.02
1,495 colleges offer Business Administration, Management and Operations. See what it covers, which degree levels are available and what graduates earn and borrow.
Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Colleges offering it
- 1,495
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $64,590
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $22,080
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 982
- Associate's
- 1,200
- Bachelor's
- 1,495
- Master's
- 1,122
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 76
- Doctoral
- 235
- First professional
- 29
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 498
What it covers
About Business Administration, Management and Operations
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.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 52.02.
Programs in this field
Colleges report these specific programs under CIP 52.02.
- Business Administration and Management, General
- Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
- Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- Office Management and Supervision
- Operations Management and Supervision
- Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- Customer Service Management
- E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
- Transportation/Mobility Management
- Research and Development Management
- Project Management
- Retail Management
By degree level
Earnings and debt by degree level
Medians across colleges of each college's own program median. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working.
| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 982 | $47,1004 yrs after · 107 colleges | $14,09468 colleges |
| Associate's | 1,200 | $49,3234 yrs after · 514 colleges | $12,880268 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 1,495 | $64,5904 yrs after · 1,131 colleges | $22,0801,078 colleges |
| Master's | 1,122 | $95,1274 yrs after · 807 colleges | $33,978687 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 76 | $159,2904 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 235 | $98,7104 yrs after · 12 colleges | $76,27927 colleges |
| First professional | 29 | $152,5764 yrs after · 4 colleges | $46,1274 colleges |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 498 | $88,5944 yrs after · 29 colleges | $39,82845 colleges |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Colleges with too few graduates have their earnings and debt suppressed, so the number of colleges reporting is smaller than the number offering the program.
Bachelor's programs
Where Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates earn the most
Median earnings four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates in the latest year. Earnings are one measure; cost and graduation rate matter too.
- 1
Pittsburgh, PA · Private nonprofit · 185 graduates
$160,783
debt $19,000
- 2
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI · Public · 608 graduates
$144,654
debt $19,500
- 3
University of California-Berkeley
Berkeley, CA · Public · 425 graduates
$144,599
debt $10,656
- 4
Philadelphia, PA · Private nonprofit · 67 graduates
$136,806
debt $19,250
- 5
Atlanta, GA · Private nonprofit · 55 graduates
$136,731
debt $15,000
- 6
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC · Public · 418 graduates
$135,874
debt $9,250
- 7
Chestnut Hill, MA · Private nonprofit · 84 graduates
$123,144
debt $18,625
- 8
Bismarck, ND · Public · 51 graduates
$122,948
debt $14,482
- 9
Lexington, VA · Private nonprofit · 109 graduates
$121,699
debt $21,500
- 10
Washington, DC · Private nonprofit · 43 graduates
$117,733
debt $8,125
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Business Administration, Management and Operations by the NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, highest national median pay first. Pay and outlook are BLS figures for each occupation.
Management
Chief Sustainability Officers
- Median pay
- $213,990
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Computer and Information Systems Managers
- Median pay
- $175,140
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Bright outlook
Management
Architectural and Engineering Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Complex Problem Solving
- Bright outlook
Management
Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers
- Median pay
- $171,270
- Outlook
- Faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Bright outlook
Management
Clinical Research Coordinators
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Bright outlook
Management
Natural Sciences Managers
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Science
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Water Resource Specialists
- Median pay
- $167,220
- Outlook
- Much faster than average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
More in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Other programs in the same area of study, by how many colleges offer them.
Every program in this area- Accounting and Related Services1,096 colleges
- Marketing820 colleges
- Finance and Financial Management Services730 colleges
- Business Operations Support and Assistant Services669 colleges
- Business/Commerce, General523 colleges
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations520 colleges
- International Business426 colleges
- Human Resources Management and Services379 colleges
Questions about Business Administration, Management and Operations
How many colleges offer Business Administration, Management and Operations?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Business Administration, Management and Operations at these degree levels: certificate (982 colleges), associate's (1,200 colleges), bachelor's (1,495 colleges), master's (1,122 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (76 colleges), doctoral (235 colleges), first professional (29 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (498 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Business Administration, Management and Operations earn $64,590 a year four years after finishing, across 1,131 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Business Administration, Management and Operations graduates earn the most?
Carnegie Mellon University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Business Administration, Management and Operations: $160,783 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.