### SUMMARY

 Going to school for Business is a valuable choice and frequently a needed first step for pupils coveting to pursue a career as a business account executive, a senior business analyst, or a senior finance analyst. Interestingly, business is a very popular major choice, ranking as the 23rd most popular degree. Last academic year alone, there were 25,818 business diplomas received. In-state tuition for business at private colleges is, on average, 3.4 times more spendy than their public counterparts.

 There are 421 institutions that offer this degree. This number of schools is on par with other majors offered in the United States. If you are looking to surround yourself with other business majors, look at schools in Indiana which have the most students admitted to business annually. Zooming out, the top region to study business is in the Southeast region with [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), [Strayer University-Virginia](/colleges/strayer-university-virginia), and [Georgia Gwinnett College](/colleges/georgia-gwinnett-college) best representing the region. Interestingly, our pick for the top conference to study business is the Big Ten Conference with [Indiana University-Bloomington](/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington) representing the conference. Based on our list of the [best colleges](/rankings/best-colleges), our choice for the best school for business is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology).

 The objectively 'best' school is not necessarily the 'best' school for you. There can be a bunch of perspectives to think about when selecting ​university. Stuff like campus amenities, transportation services, and food might refashion one's inclinations of where to go to university. At Authority, we weighed the pros and cons for you. If, as an example, you are intrigued by which business college is home to the top campus, the winner is [New York University](/colleges/new-york-university). If you are primarily interested in which college boasts the best campus, then we have a whole page [dedicated to that](/rankings/best-college-campuses). We have carefully pored through government databases, student reviews, professor reviews, and more in order to evaluate each major in an unbiased and informative way. Here you can explore our well researched list for the colleges with the [best student life](/rankings/best-student-life)&nbspand, from that list, our choice of the school with the best student life for business is [University of Pennsylvania](/colleges/university-of-pennsylvania). Are you curious why? Continue reading to learn more about Authority's top choices. Many of our conclusions might surprise you.

 If cost is a significant factor in your decision on where to go to university, you might be cautious about [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university). [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university)&nbspappears to be the most expensive college for business, at least regarding out of state enrollment. We have a list of the [most expensive](/rankings/most-expensive-colleges)&nbspcolleges that might put the expense at [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university)&nbspinto perspective. For more context, you might be interested to know that business is the 86th most expensive program in the United States, with an average cost of $40,700. To zoom out a little, the most costly state for business nationally is Washington with tuition and fees at the primary three colleges amounting to $44,280 at Gonzaga University, adding up to $44,604 at Seattle Pacific University, and expenses amounting to $44,604 at Walla Walla University. Even more broadly, the most expensive region of the country for business is the Far West region which is best demonstrated with [Saint Mary's College of California](/colleges/saint-mary-s-college-of-california) with a cost of $48,988, [Gonzaga University](/colleges/gonzaga-university) with a cost of $44,280, and [Seattle Pacific University](/colleges/seattle-pacific-university) with a cost of $44,604.

 Our cheapest region for business is the Southwest region which is represented by [Western New Mexico University](/colleges/western-new-mexico-university) with a cost of $11,400, [Midwestern State University](/colleges/midwestern-state-university) with a cost of $7,516, and [West Texas A & M University](/colleges/west-texas-a-m-university) with a cost of $6,960. More optimistically, the most affordable college for business is [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](/colleges/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center). Authority's full list of the most affordable universities can be found [here](/rankings/most-affordable-colleges).

 In-state attendees can anticipate paying in the neighborhood of $10,000 for a degree in business. That cost grows substantially to a median of $21,500 for the out-of-state public-school student. As such, you might be interested in our choice for the school constituting the best value for business: [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). Through this link you can find our comprehensive list of the universities we believe to be the [best value](/rankings/best-value-colleges)&nbspin general. Bear in mind, this section is based on out-of-state tuition costs. The value proposition changes when it comes to in-state tuition, but as we do not know what state(s) you might qualify for in-state tuition, we are approaching this discussion through out-of-state tuition costs.

 Earnings for business students differ widely, but two years after completing the major graduates will regularly earn around $56,000. There is a lot of variation in pay; top positions can experience pay up to $115,700. Right out of university, the minimum earning opportunities within the business field earn $26,900, which is an alright wage. The top earning graduates from business studied at [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand if you are looking for colleges with all of the [highest earning graduates](/rankings/highest-earning-graduates), Authority has that too.

 The prevailing diversity of business sits decent, falling in the 65th percentile of all majors. The university with the highest composite diversity for business is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology)&nbspand here you can find our general list for the schools which have the [most diversity](/rankings/most-diverse-colleges). The financial diversity of Business is only within the 63rd percentile of all majors. Racial diversity is even lower in the 57th percentile. White students compose the largest proportion, 60%, of students majoring in business. Additionally, 60% of undergrads pursuing a business major are men.

 The median score of business professors is 4 stars, a rating that is surprisingly the median across every major; which is a fine. If you want the most popular business instructor nationally, take a look at Courtney Pham from [Northwest Missouri State University](/colleges/northwest-missouri-state-university). This may be shocking, but the best rated business instructors from student rankings are at [Sam Houston State University](/colleges/sam-houston-state-university). If we consider data beyond basic rankings it becomes clear that the college with the best professors for business is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). One can find more detail on our evolving ranking methodology of the [best overall professors here](/rankings/best-professors), along with some of the top instructors in the U.S.

 Finally, the hardest school to get into for business is [Massachusetts Institute of Technology](/colleges/massachusetts-institute-of-technology). While we are unsure why you would be interested, we have an extensive page for the [hardest colleges to get into](/rankings/hardest-colleges-to-get-into). That being said, we do hope you understand that looking at academics with a perspective only built on superlatives might cause issues. We at Authority hope you explore our other pages on individual schools and read a few of our background articles on essential things to think about as you progress with your school search.



 ### POPULARITY

 Business is the 23rd most popular degree in America, with 25,818 students receiving their bachelors degree last year. It just beat out #24 [Kinesiology and Exercise Science](/rankings/best-colleges-for-kinesiology-and-exercise-science), and narrowly lost to #22 [History](/rankings/best-colleges-for-history).

 The degree is offered at a total of 421 colleges across the nation, and is the 52nd most widely offered degree. It is only offered at 18% of the Top 100 [Best Colleges](/rankings/best-colleges) in America.

 It is also worth noting that 66% of colleges offering business are public making it a quite accessible field.

 The southeast produces the most business graduates, largely led by [University of Central Florida](/colleges/university-of-central-florida), while it’s the Big Ten Conference that leads conference totals. As far as states, Indiana ranks highest, with particular help from [Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis](/colleges/indiana-university-purdue-university-indianapolis) and [Indiana University-Bloomington](/colleges/indiana-university-bloomington).

 All that being said, no individual school produces more business graduates than [Shelton State Community College](/colleges/shelton-state-community-college), which graduated 2026 students last year alone. Although size is critical, another important factor to consider is the program’s density (the percent of all students that study business). More students studied business as a percentage of total students at [Strayer University-Mississippi](/colleges/strayer-university-mississippi) than any other college.



 ### COST

 Business is the 86th most expensive major in America, with a median cost of $40,735 for the top 50 programs (just ahead of #87, [Music Performance](rankings/best-colleges-for-music-performance), with a median cost of $40,594).

 The Far West has the most expensive schools with top 50 business programs led by [Saint Mary's College of California](/colleges/saint-mary-s-college-of-california) with an annual cost of $48,988. The most expensive state for business is Washington led by [Gonzaga University](/colleges/gonzaga-university) and [Seattle Pacific University](/colleges/seattle-pacific-university).

 Public schools with solid programs typically charge 70.66% less than private schools for in-state students. However, when looking at out-of-state tuition, the median top 50 Public school charges 36.53% less than your average private school. So, if you're looking into studying at a state school, make sure you qualify for in-state tuition as soon as possible.

 The most pricey option in the top 25 is [George Washington University](/colleges/george-washington-university), which is the 19th most expensive college in the nation. The most affordable option in the top 100 is [Brigham Young University-Provo](/colleges/brigham-young-university-provo). It costs just $5,790 per year, but it's ranked 52nd for its business program. If you’re looking for the least expensive option in the top 25, [CUNY Graduate School and University Center](/colleges/cuny-graduate-school-and-university-center)  might be right for you, ranked #18 with an in-state cost of just $Another more affordable option would be #7, [Florida State University](/colleges/florida-state-university) in Leon County, FL with a cost of $4,022 for in-state students and $16,540 for out-of-state students.



### SALARY

 Going to college is a large investment for most people. It is important to lack doubt you enlarge your future earning power. Therefore, we hope the following income and job placement information help you in deciding your focus at college.

 In year one out of college, Business students draw $45,209 per annum on average (top 31%). With experience in their careers, they normally bring in anywhere between $26,893 and $115,729, but average close to $55,954. To put it in context, that is 45% north of average.

 The most common job title for a Business graduate is Sales Specialist, which generally make about $32,000; next are Inside Sales Representative and Analyst, which normally make close to $26,000 and $54,000 respectively.

 The Far West has the most well paid Business graduates. MA has the most well paid Business graduates of any state. The highest earning conference for Business graduates is New England Women's & Men's Athletic Conference.



### PROFESSORS

 Fast Facts for Business: Median Professor Rating: 4 / 5, which is below average.

 Professors oftentimes have a big impact your college experience, no matter what you study. A great teacher may help a student find their passion and even make a difficult subject seem easy. Conversely, an unpleasant professor can turn you off of an entire field or even worse... flunk you!

 Professors of Business have a median student rating of 4 / 5, putting these professors in the top 67th percentile in the US grounded in overall professor effectivness. Suprisingly, this major is exactly the median for professor rating, which, in our opinion, is remarkably average! Professors of Business just edged-out those from ["Theatre Design and Technology"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-theatre-design-and-technology), whereas ["Data Modeling and Database Administration"](/rankings/best-colleges-for-data-modeling-and-database-administration)&nbspprofessors ranked one slot above Business.

 Now for some statistics about Business professors. Colleges located in midsize suburbs tend to have the best Business professors. The Capital Athletic Conference has the highest rated Business professors. The New England region has the highest rated Business professors. Private schools tend to have higher rated Business professors than public institutions. Finally, Pennsylvania has the highest rated Business professors in the nation.

 Courtney Pham, professor at [Northwest Missouri State University](/colleges/northwest-missouri-state-university)&nbspin Maryville, MO is the most popular Business professor in the US. Cynthia Brunson, instructor at [Central Piedmont Community College](/colleges/central-piedmont-community-college)&nbspin Charlotte, NC is the highest rated Business professor in the US, with a rating of 5 / 5.

 Want to know which schools have the [Best Professors](/rankings/best-professors)!



### STUDENTS

 College often can be an incredibly formative period in one's life; it's an occasion for personal growth and development. Undergrads continue to learn their calling and learn many of the must-have skills to be a thriving member of society. But learning goes beyond the classroom - the campus dialogue, the life lesson learned from an eccentric instructor, the exposure to a different view. As such, a diverse univeristy experience tremendously enriches what one gains from the time in university.

 Business is a slightly more ethnically diverse major than average\*. 60% of the US' Business majors are white students, followed by students of other races\*\*(17%), asian students (10%), and latino students (9%). The most ethnically diverse college\* in the top 100 is [Pacific Union College](/colleges/pacific-union-college) located in Angwin, CA.

 Secondly, Business slightly skews male, with 40% of majors identifying as men. The most gender balanced school in the top 100 is [La Salle University](/colleges/la-salle-university) in Philadelphia, PA.

 Another important type of diversity is class diversity. Business is more socioeconomically diverse than 63% of majors. 30% of its students come from very high income families, 16% are from homes bringing in between $48,000 and $75,000 a year, and 23% grew up in homes who bring in under $30,000 a year. [Newman University](/colleges/newman-university) is the most socioeconomically diverse school in the top 100.

 Considering each type of diversity, overall NY is the most diverse state for Business. The Mid East is the most diverse region, and the University Athletic Association is the most diverse conference.

   \* diversity calculations and comparisons are based on [Simpson's Diversity Index](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity_index)   
  \*\* other races is used to refer to non asian, black, latino, or white

  #### Diversity Statistics

  ##### Racial Diversity

 * Asian: 10%
* Black: 5%
* Latino: 9%
* White: 60%
* Other: 17%
  ##### Gender Diversity

 * Male: 60%
* Female: 40%
  ##### Socioeconomic Diversity (By Household Income)

 * Under 30k: 23%
* 30k - 48k: 15%
* 48k - 75k: 16%
* 75k - 110k: 16%
* Over 110k: 30%
  ##### Geographic Diversity

 * In State: 65%
* Out of State: 31%
* International: 4%


2023 Business Popularity

There are about 266,338 students enrolled in Business in the USA.

POPULARITY