If you’re looking to transition from a mid-level management position into executive leadership, expand your entrepreneurial toolkit to scale your business, or break into competitive fields like finance or marketing, earning a business degree can provide you with the necessary skills and connections.

If you're wondering how long does a business degree take, the duration can vary depending on the program and whether you study full-time or part-time. Fields like technology, healthcare administration, and environmental sustainability may also benefit from the expertise gained from a business degree—especially when it comes to navigating complex challenges, leading innovative initiatives, and driving strategic growth.

To equip you with the knowledge you need before you submit your applications, we’re answering “what can you do with a business degree” and exploring ways to maximize your career growth.

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Traditional Career Paths for Business Graduates

A business degree is quite versatile, and the skills you gain throughout your education can be applied to various roles across multiple industries. Specifically, business classes teach skills like:¹

• Accounting – Mastering accounting principles enables you to track, analyze, and report financial data with accuracy. You'll learn how to manage budgets, forecast profits, and ensure compliance with regulations—skills essential for both corporate and entrepreneurial environments. These abilities can empower you to make informed decisions that keep organizations financially healthy and growing.
• Finance – Business finance courses teach you to assess investment opportunities, manage capital, and optimize cash flow. You'll learn how to evaluate risk, develop financial strategies, and improve profitability, preparing you for roles in investment banking, corporate finance, and even personal wealth management.
• Management and administration – Leadership courses focus on building effective teams, managing resources, and overseeing operations. You’ll gain insights into organizational behavior, conflict resolution, and decision-making processes, enabling you to drive productivity and lead companies through change. Whether you’re managing a startup or running a department, these skills can be critical for achieving long-term goals.
• Marketing – In marketing classes, you'll dive into consumer psychology, branding, and data-driven advertising strategies. You’ll develop the ability to create compelling campaigns, analyze market trends, and adapt to shifting consumer behaviors—ensuring your business or product stands out in competitive markets. These skills can also be applied across industries, from tech startups to global brands.
• Sales – A solid foundation in sales teaches you negotiation techniques, relationship-building, and customer acquisition strategies. You'll learn to identify prospects, close deals, and cultivate lasting client relationships, directly impacting revenue generation. With these skills, you can help drive growth for any company, turning leads into loyal customers and expanding your company’s reach.

What’s more, these skills can be applied to a number of positions, including:

• Financial analyst – The job of a financial analyst is primarily based on research. They take financial data, current events, economic trends, and market insights into account to create financial models and inform investment decisions for their company or their clients. You’ll find financial analysts in various industries, including investment banks, insurance companies, and healthcare technology operations.²
• Marketing manager – Strategy is essential for marketing managers. They must execute successful campaigns, hone in on brand messaging, and conduct audience research to sell a product or service. Private companies, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, city offices, and more can all benefit from the expertise of a well-educated, well-researched marketing manager.³
• Operations director – A director of operations oversees the day-to-day workings of a company to ensure everything runs smoothly. They manage resources, develop operational policies, and optimize workflows to align with the company’s strategic goals. This role requires a deep understanding of business processes and cross-departmental coordination to improve productivity and profitability. You’ll find operations directors in industries ranging from manufacturing and retail to healthcare and logistics.

Entrepreneurship Opportunities for Business Graduates

For people looking to start and run their own business, a business degree offers critical skills in financial management, strategic planning, and leadership. You'll learn how to create solid business plans, manage budgets, understand market dynamics, and navigate legal and regulatory requirements.

Beyond foundational knowledge, a business degree may also provide access to valuable networks and mentorship opportunities, helping you build the connections and confidence needed to understand the qualities of a good leader and grow your venture successfully.

Successful business owners who have utilized their business degrees include:

• Warren Buffet – An entrepreneur and investment expert, Buffet graduated with a Bachelor of Science in business administration. From there, he went on to acquire Berkshire Hathaway, a conglomerate that holds roughly 47 stocks in various industries.^4,5
• Tim Cook – The CEO of Apple acquired a master’s in business administration (MBA) before he worked for several leading technology companies, including IBM, Intelligent Electronics, and Compaq. He has extensive experience in operations and supply chain management.⁶
• Indra Nooyi – Equipped with an MBA, Nooyi became the CEO of PepsiCo, boosting its revenue by focusing the company’s strategy on health and sustainability.⁷

Emerging Industries for Business Graduates

As industries continue to evolve in response to changing societal needs and technological advancements, business graduates may find success in growing fields like technology, healthcare, and sustainability.

Let’s take a closer look:

• Data analytics – Tech companies often rely on data to inform decision-making and drive product innovation. A business graduate with skills in data analytics is uniquely positioned to interpret and utilize data research to optimize operations, enhance the customer experience, drive strategic campaigns, and inspire new product designs. Such positions include data analysts, business intelligence analysts, and data scientists.
• Healthcare administration – Technological advancements and an aging population are transforming how healthcare companies navigate their operations. Healthcare administrators with a background in business can apply their strong leadership and finance skills to adapt their team to evolving regulatory practices, manage financial resources, allocate resources, and streamline staff schedules to ultimately improve patient outcomes.
• Environmental consulting – Environmental sustainability is the focus of many of today’s businesses. Environmental consultants with a background in business can apply their knowledge to help companies comply with environmental regulations, build brand awareness, and minimize their environmental impact.

Networking and Internship Advantages

To build a successful career, business graduates can take advantage of networking and internship opportunities. Why?

These opportunities may lead to mentorships, job referrals, and unique skill sets that can benefit resume-building and bolster practical work experience.

Specifically, business programs at higher education institutions often offer:

• Alumni networks – Many business programs boast strong alumni networks that provide current students with access to mentoring programs, guest lectures, and networking events, offering invaluable advice and potential job leads.
• Industry connections – Business programs typically have established relationships with local businesses and organizations. This access can lead to exclusive internship opportunities and workshops, allowing business students to connect with industry professionals.
• Hands-on internships – Many business programs incorporate internships as part of the curriculum or offer dedicated resources to help business major students find relevant jobs and build work experience in industries that interest them.

Further Specialization with Advanced Degrees

After earning a bachelor’s in business degree, graduates can further advance their knowledge and skillsets by pursuing advanced degrees, such as:

• Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) – An MBA provides graduates with broad training in the areas of business management, finance, marketing, operations, human resources, and strategy. These programs can equip students with expanded professional networks and global business insights that may prove fruitful in high-level business roles.⁸ If you're interested in advancing your career but need flexibility, learning how to choose an online MBA program can help you find an option that fits your schedule and goals.
• Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) – A DBA is an advanced doctoral degree that uses practical applications of business theories and research to solve real-world problems. Mid- to senior-level business professionals and consultants typically pursue an advanced degree like a DBA to enhance their business knowledge and leadership skills.
• PhD in Business Administration – Unlike a DBA, a PhD in Business Administration is primarily research-based and often pursued by business professionals in the academic field. Coursework focuses on business theories, statistics, and financial analyses.  

To specialize in your field of choice, you can also pursue more targeted master’s business degrees, including:

• Master of Management
• Master of Finance
• Master of Business Analytics
• Master of Accounting
• Master of Marketing

Maximizing Career Growth with Networking

Building strong professional networks during and after completing a business administration degree can be extremely helpful for career advancement and long-term success. Networking opens doors to job opportunities and mentorship by way of job referrals and internal recommendations, and it provides opportunities to learn about relevant financial trends and emerging technologies within the industry.

Oftentimes, higher education institutions will host networking opportunities, such as job fairs, alumni associations, thought-leadership seminars, and mentorship programs to further develop your industry knowledge and promote collaboration with industry professionals.

How to Leverage a Business Degree for Long-Term Success

A business degree offers remarkable versatility and networking opportunities, equipping graduates with skills that are applicable across various industries and roles. To excel within your field, you can leverage additional learning and networking opportunities that enhance your expertise and broaden your professional connections.

The Alliant International University California School of Management Leadership (CSML) offers diverse graduate programs in Business, including MBA, DBA, MS in Information Systems Technology, Data Analytics, Healthcare Analytics, and PhD in Organizational Leadership. Each degree program combines academic learning with hands-on training and practical experience to help business students prepare for various careers. CSML also emphasizes networking and experiential learning, requiring practical training from the first term to graduation.

Learn essential skills for the dynamic business world by joining Alliant International University.

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Sources:

1. College Board. “The Basics of Business Majors.” College Board. May 3, 2024. http://blog.collegeboard.org/basics-business-majors. Accessed October 14, 2024.
2. “What is Financial Analyst?” CFA Institute. http://www.cfainstitute.org/en/programs/cfa/charterholder-careers/role…. Accessed October 14, 2024.
3. “What is a Marketing Manager?” U.S. News. http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/marketing-manager. Accessed October 14, 2024.
4. “Warren Buffet.” Forbes.  http://www.forbes.com/profile/warren-buffett/. Accessed October 14, 2024.
5. “Berkshire Hathaway Portfolio Tracker.” CNBC.  http://www.cnbc.com/berkshire-hathaway-portfolio/. Accessed October 14, 2024.
6. “Tim Cook.” Apple.  http://www.apple.com/leadership/tim-cook/. Accessed October 14, 2024.
7. “Indra Nooyi.” Forbes.  http://www.forbes.com/profile/indra-nooyi/. Accessed October 14, 2024.
8. Kagan, Julia. “What Is a Master of Business Administration (MBA)?” Investopedia. April 20, 2024.  http://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mba.asp. Accessed October 14, 2024.