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/Commerce, General
CIP52.01
523 colleges offer Business/Commerce, General. 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
- 523
- at its most common level
- Bachelor's earnings
- $64,016
- median, 4 years after
- Bachelor's debt
- $21,500
- median federal loans
Colleges offering it, by degree level
- Certificate
- 269
- Associate's
- 523
- Bachelor's
- 426
- Master's
- 144
- Post-baccalaureate certificate
- 9
- Doctoral
- 26
- First professional
- 5
- Graduate/professional certificate
- 57
What it covers
About Business/Commerce, General
A program that focuses on the general study of business, including the processes of interchanging goods and services (buying, selling and producing), business organization, and accounting as used in profit-making and nonprofit public and private institutions and agencies. The programs may prepare individuals to apply business principles and techniques in various occupational settings.
Definition: National Center for Education Statistics, Classification of Instructional Programs 2020, code 52.01.
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 | 269 | $50,9314 yrs after · 11 colleges | $14,25017 colleges |
| Associate's | 523 | $49,1344 yrs after · 173 colleges | $12,500121 colleges |
| Bachelor's | 426 | $64,0164 yrs after · 229 colleges | $21,500221 colleges |
| Master's | 144 | $106,8124 yrs after · 69 colleges | $31,31759 colleges |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 9 | Not reported | Not reported |
| Doctoral | 26 | $108,5131 yr after · 1 college | $81,1001 college |
| First professional | 5 | $92,9534 yrs after · 1 college | Not reported |
| Graduate/professional certificate | 57 | $113,1274 yrs after · 3 colleges | $30,7501 college |
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/Commerce, General 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
Waco, TX · Private nonprofit · 95 graduates
$124,434
debt $12,000
- 2
Winston-Salem, NC · Private nonprofit · 106 graduates
$118,167
debt $19,500
- 3
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 986 graduates
$113,620
debt $18,875
- 4
University of Notre Dame-South Bend
Notre Dame, IN · Private nonprofit · 45 graduates
$111,444
debt $21,375
- 5
Waltham, MA · Private nonprofit · 110 graduates
$108,405
debt $17,489
- 6
Bethlehem, PA · Private nonprofit · 37 graduates
$107,079
debt $19,500
- 7
Indiana University-Bloomington
Bloomington, IN · Public · 2,407 graduates
$105,583
debt $18,507
- 8
Saratoga Springs, NY · Private nonprofit · 104 graduates
$93,229
debt $24,774
- 9
Athens, GA · Public · 11 graduates
$91,970
debt not reported
- 10
New York, NY · Private nonprofit · 37 graduates
$89,450
debt $24,625
Careers
Careers this program leads to
Occupations linked to Business/Commerce, General 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
Sales Managers
- Median pay
- $148,270
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Negotiation
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Complex Problem Solving
- Coordination
- Critical Thinking
- Bright outlook
Management
Compliance Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Critical Thinking
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Bright outlook
Management
Loss Prevention Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Bright outlook
Management
Managers, All Other
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Bright outlook
Management
Regulatory Affairs Managers
- Median pay
- $141,900
- Outlook
- As fast as average
Bachelor's degree
- Writing
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
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- Business Administration, Management and Operations1,495 colleges
- Accounting and Related Services1,096 colleges
- Marketing820 colleges
- Finance and Financial Management Services730 colleges
- Business Operations Support and Assistant Services669 colleges
- Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations520 colleges
- International Business426 colleges
- Human Resources Management and Services379 colleges
Questions about Business/Commerce, General
How many colleges offer Business/Commerce, General?
Published colleges on CollegesRef report Business/Commerce, General at these degree levels: certificate (269 colleges), associate's (523 colleges), bachelor's (426 colleges), master's (144 colleges), post-baccalaureate certificate (9 colleges), doctoral (26 colleges), first professional (5 colleges), graduate/professional certificate (57 colleges). Counts are from College Scorecard field-of-study data (2025).
What do Business/Commerce, General graduates earn?
At the median college, bachelor's graduates in Business/Commerce, General earn $64,016 a year four years after finishing, across 229 colleges that report earnings. Figures cover graduates who received federal aid.
Where do Business/Commerce, General graduates earn the most?
Baylor University reports the highest median earnings for bachelor's graduates in Business/Commerce, General: $124,434 four years after finishing, among programs with at least 10 graduates.