# 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/programs/business-administration-management-and-operations
- CIP code: 52.02 (Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services)
- Colleges offering it: 1,495 at its most common degree level
- Value ranking: https://www.collegesref.com/best-colleges/business

## Outcomes by degree level (College Scorecard, 2025)

| Degree level | Colleges | Median earnings 1 yr | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median federal debt |
| --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| Certificate | 982 | $42,602 | $47,100 | $14,094 |
| Associate's | 1,200 | $41,221 | $49,323 | $12,880 |
| Bachelor's | 1,495 | $51,489 | $64,590 | $22,080 |
| Master's | 1,122 | $78,303 | $95,127 | $33,978 |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 76 | $86,901 | $159,290 | not reported |
| Doctoral | 235 | $102,379 | $98,710 | $76,279 |
| First professional | 29 | $161,903 | $152,576 | $46,127 |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 498 | $72,534 | $88,594 | $39,828 |

## Colleges whose graduates earn the most (Bachelor's)

Only programs with at least 10 graduates are listed.

| College | Location | Median earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: |
| [Carnegie Mellon University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/carnegie-mellon-university-406) | Pittsburgh, PA | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| [University of Michigan-Ann Arbor](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-michigan-ann-arbor-main-campus-2956) | Ann Arbor, MI | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| [University of California-Berkeley](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-california-berkeley-cal-2881) | Berkeley, CA | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| [University of Pennsylvania](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-pennsylvania-upenn-3009) | Philadelphia, PA | $136,806 | $19,250 |
| [Emory University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/emory-university-main-campus-916) | Atlanta, GA | $136,731 | $15,000 |
| [University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-north-carolina-at-chapel-hill-main-campus-2990) | Chapel Hill, NC | $135,874 | $9,250 |
| [Boston College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/boston-college-285) | Chestnut Hill, MA | $123,144 | $18,625 |
| [Bismarck State College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/bismarck-state-college-254) | Bismarck, ND | $122,948 | $14,482 |
| [Washington and Lee University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/washington-and-lee-university-3167) | Lexington, VA | $121,699 | $21,500 |
| [Georgetown University-DC](https://www.collegesref.com/college/georgetown-university-dc-1068) | Washington, DC | $117,733 | $8,125 |

## Related careers (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk)

- [Chief Executives](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-executives): $213,990 median pay
- [Chief Sustainability Officers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/chief-sustainability-officers): $213,990 median pay
- [Computer and Information Systems Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/computer-and-information-systems-managers): $175,140 median pay
- [Architectural and Engineering Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/architectural-and-engineering-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Biofuels/Biodiesel Technology and Product Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/biofuels-biodiesel-technology-and-product-development-managers): $171,270 median pay
- [Clinical Research Coordinators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/clinical-research-coordinators): $167,220 median pay
- [Natural Sciences Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/natural-sciences-managers): $167,220 median pay
- [Water Resource Specialists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/water-resource-specialists): $167,220 median pay
- [Financial Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/financial-managers): $166,570 median pay
- [Investment Fund Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/investment-fund-managers): $166,570 median pay
- [Treasurers and Controllers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/treasurers-and-controllers): $166,570 median pay
- [Human Resources Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/human-resources-managers): $149,280 median pay
- [Compensation and Benefits Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compensation-and-benefits-managers): $149,230 median pay
- [Sales Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sales-managers): $148,270 median pay
- [Purchasing Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/purchasing-managers): $148,080 median pay
- [Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/brownfield-redevelopment-specialists-and-site-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Compliance Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/compliance-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Loss Prevention Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/loss-prevention-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Managers, All Other](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/managers-all-other): $141,900 median pay
- [Regulatory Affairs Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/regulatory-affairs-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-development-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Wind Energy Operations Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/wind-energy-operations-managers): $141,900 median pay
- [Training and Development Managers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/training-and-development-managers): $133,000 median pay
- [Actuaries](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/actuaries): $130,000 median pay

## More in Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

- [Accounting and Related Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/accounting-and-related-services): 1,096 colleges
- [Marketing](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/marketing): 820 colleges
- [Finance and Financial Management Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/finance-and-financial-management-services): 730 colleges
- [Business Operations Support and Assistant Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/business-operations-support-and-assistant-services): 669 colleges
- [Business/Commerce, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/business-commerce-general): 523 colleges
- [Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/entrepreneurial-and-small-business-operations): 520 colleges
- [International Business](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/international-business): 426 colleges
- [Human Resources Management and Services](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/human-resources-management-and-services): 379 colleges

## Guides on this field

- [How to Compare Colleges by Major: Engineering, STEM, Pre-Med, and Business](https://www.collegesref.com/blog/how-to-compare-colleges-by-major)

## Sources

- U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/data/
- NCES Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/