Campus is the new alternative to online community college that provides a 100% live and online Associate of Arts in Business Administration degree program. Our comprehensive, career-focused business program equips students from across the U.S. with a solid foundation in core business principles to set them up for success no matter what their next step is. Read on to explore the world of business and how starting with a business degree might be your next best move.
Business degrees are the most popular online degrees. For example, a business administration degree can be an extremely versatile tool for students and job candidates. The versatility is just one of the many reasons to get a business degree, setting a foundation for various career paths.
According to a ZipRecruiter survey of more than 5,000 college graduates, business degrees have the least amount of regret among graduates – most college students find a business degree useful. By learning operations management, marketing, finance, economics, and leadership, candidates can be qualified for a variety of entry-level business positions. These are the pillars that answer why to get a business degree—the breadth of knowledge opens many doors.
In recent years, more students are pursuing college through online programs, too. For a variety of reasons, such as flexibility, cost, work-life balance, and speed to degree completion, more students than ever are choosing online and hybrid learning for collegiate programs. These factors also underscore reasons to get a business degree through an online platform like Campus. The Campus online associate degree in business program is an example of a low-cost, online alternative to a traditional business degree program, with the modern student in mind.
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Which Online Degrees Do Students Choose?
A 2020 study by Wiley Educational Services found that business degrees were far and away the most popular type of online degree. Online business degrees, including online community college degrees, were more popular than the next two leading categories of study by a rate of almost two to one. This popularity also signifies why to get a business degree—its relevance and applicability in today's market.
More respondents said business was their field of study than any other field. 29% of undergraduate students and 26% of graduate students said business studies were their chosen field of study. Among undergraduate students, Arts & Humanities was 15%, Information Technology was 14%, Science Technology Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) was 10%, and Healthcare was 10%.
The 2020 study also showed that how students are earning their credits is changing. Of surveyed students, 30% said they took classes entirely online, with another 18% stating they took hybrid classes (a mix of online and in-person classes). Interestingly, 51% of the students surveyed said they had never previously enrolled in online-only classes.
Why Are Business Degrees in Demand?
Have you ever wondered why you should get a business degree? One reason could be that the skillsets students learn in business administration programs can translate to a wide variety of jobs, including great entry-level business administration jobs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that business and financial jobs will increase at a rate of about 8% from 2020 to 2030 (1). The projected growth is a strong indication that business degrees are in demand, reflecting the need for business acumen in the marketplace. The overall salary for business majors is higher than the median for all jobs, as well. Certain positions, such as business executives and management analysts are attractive as long-term career goals, and many candidates aim for such careers.
If you have considered going back to school to advance your career, or are looking to get your first degree, we’ve compiled 13 compelling reasons why college students pick business degrees.
1. Improving communication skills
Business graduates are likely to end up in roles that rely heavily on strong communication skills. This is just one of the many facets that exemplify why to get a business degree—to master such universal skills. Whether you are creating a business pitch, leading a team, or sending emails, these tasks all depend on assertive communication.
Negotiation, active listening, positive body language, and convincing colleagues and partners of a course of action are all things business leaders are called upon to do regularly. Setting the right tone in written, verbal, or multimedia communication is essential to success in business.
Many business graduates end up in leadership, project management, or entrepreneurial roles. By mastering the art of effective communication, you can transfer into many different positions over the course of your career.
2. Developing transferable skills
One reason business graduates have long, successful careers is many of their skills are transferable outside of their current roles. Knowing reasons to get a business degree can inspire students to cultivate these transferable skills even more diligently. Soft skills like communication, and analytical skills, like decision-making, can allow candidates to consider different career options.
By overlapping your experience in different business functions, you can transfer your talents into different positions. Teamwork, collaboration, project management, problem-solving, and strategic thinking are just a few of the transferable skills in which business graduates become adept.
3. High demand and more career opportunities
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that over 750, 000 new jobs will be created in the business sector between 2020 and 2030. Business degrees are popular because qualified candidates for business administration roles are in demand. This increase further confirms are business degrees in demand, showcasing the sector's robust growth. Hiring managers need people with business skills to fill necessary roles.
Plus, business degrees are in demand in the job market. Acknowledging are business degrees in demand encourages students to pursue business studies with confidence in their future employability. A 2018 survey by NACE shows that 8 of the top 10 in-demand skills are business related, including marketing, accounting, and business administration. Additionally, a 2020 report by the BLS shows that workers are changing jobs after an average of 4.1 years. This means you will have lots of opportunities to level up your experience as you change roles. With your transferable skillset and business acumen, you could have many chances to develop new career opportunities and move into a senior role.
4. Potential earnings in a lucrative career
Business majors can find stable employment opportunities that provide sustainable compensation packages. Of course, the more experience you have, the more potential earnings you can accumulate. For a general idea of the range of salaries you may earn you can look at the job listing boards in your area, or the BLS data for Business and Financial jobs, and Management jobs.
5. Learning to run a business
One of the biggest reasons to undertake a business degree program is the breadth of knowledge you learn about running a business and general operations. This reason aligns with why to get a business degree; to gain comprehensive insight into the core functions of a business. Some of the topics a business administration program covers include accounting and finance, marketing, operations, leadership, and human resources. After completing a business degree program, students should have a deep understanding of what it takes to run a small business.
6. Developing accounting acumen
Every business admin degree program should cover accounting principles. The Campus online associate degree in business program covers accrual-based accounting for merchandising purposes, 10-column worksheets, financial statements (including Statement of Cash Flow), adjusting entries and closing entries, and accounting software.
7. Cultivating the entrepreneurial spirit
Can a business degree lead to entrepreneurship? It definitely can. Business graduates sometimes branch out into entrepreneurship on their own. Even if you work for a corporation, thinking like an entrepreneur can make you a valuable resource for your company.
8. Leadership and management development
The business world is a highly competitive landscape. Having strong leadership and management is crucial to long-term success. With a business administration degree, you will learn to communicate effectively, lead a team, make tough decisions, think critically, and solve complex business problems.
9. Learning about investment and finance
Perhaps the most important aspect of business is understanding cash flow and managing finances. Getting a business degree will help you understand basic economic principles, cash flow, and how to assess the financial health of a business. A professional business administration program will help teach you how to make good financial decisions when it comes to guiding a business.
10. Project management skills
Business administration specialists are often qualified candidates for project management or operations management positions. Whether you work in a corporate, nonprofit, or specialty sector, the strong project management skills you learn in a business administration program will help you prepare for these challenges.
11. Job specializations in your chosen field
After earning a general business administration degree, you can specialize in different fields. Some common specializations for business majors include accounting, marketing, economics, finance, business management, healthcare, information systems, and operations. Wherever your talents and interests lie, you can find a fulfilling career.
12. Networking with like-minded people
Business opportunities often grow from the seeds of networking with like-minded people. The students, faculty, and other people you meet in your cohort can help you focus on your goals. Your fellow students are contacts that also have the same drive and passion that you possess. Fostering these friendships can lead to business opportunities later, as your fellow students grow in their careers.
13. Developing critical thinking
Business administration programs teach students to think critically, analyze business problems, and figure out how to innovate solutions for new situations. Such critical thinking is often highlighted when considering the reasons to get a business degree, as it is crucial to success in any business endeavor. The ability to make quick, yet thoughtful decisions makes any candidate a valuable asset to a company.
The final part in a two-part video series that talks about why business degrees are in demand
Learn Business Administration at Campus
If you’re interested in a career in business leadership or administration, Campus, has a stellar associate degree in business program offered in a 100% online format. This program addresses all the reasons to get a business degree, preparing you for a thriving future in business. Our flagship business administration program gives students all the tools they need to enter the job market with in-demand business skills.
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Want to learn more about Campus?
Our admissions advisors can answer your questions.