Best Online Business Administration Degrees of 2025

There’s perhaps no sector of higher education more responsive to employer needs than business schools.

Over the past years, business schools have rapidly incorporated data skills and AI into their curriculum and taken on rapidly growing fields like fintech in response to surging demand from employers and students. Universities have also shifted their online business programs to accommodate working professionals‘ busy schedules.

A bachelor’s degree in business administration degree can set you up for high-demand jobs in many industries and prepare you for an MBA down the road. We used affordability, flexibility, and ROI to rank the best online programs of 2025.

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Return on investment is key when it comes to a business degree. Make sure to choose an affordable program from an accredited institution with a curriculum that is relevant to your personal goals.

Dr. Gutiérrez adds that programs offer different areas of expertise, so “the first step is for the prospective applicant to identify the areas in which they would like to hone their skills.”

The cost of an online bachelor’s degree in business administration varies significantly by institution. Private nonprofit institutions tend to cost more than public universities, and part-time programs typically cost less than full-time programs.

You might be able to transfer credits from previous college experience to cut down on the total cost of your degree. An accelerated program can also save you money by truncating the requirements of a four-year degree down to two years or less.

Financial aid can also help you cut down on college costs. Make sure to fill out the FAFSA to land federal grants, and look for institution-level scholarships to help you reduce the costs of your program.

A typical business administration bachelor’s degree takes four years to complete. A degree usually includes general education requirements, business core curriculum, and elective options related to your degree.

Some business administration programs are offered in an accelerated online format, cutting down the time it takes to earn the degree to two years or less. Those programs usually confer the same degree as their traditional counterparts, but offer intensive classes over a shorter period of time.

Transferring credits can also help you cut down the time it takes to get an online business administration degree. Past college credits, especially general education requirements, might count toward your degree.

Going to an accredited business administration program is a way to make sure you’re earning relevant skills. Accreditors are third-party organizations that evaluate student outcomes, faculty expertise, and curricula to make sure that students are getting good value out of their degrees.

Colleges usually hold institutional accreditation, but business schools can also hold program-specific accreditation from a specialized accreditor.

Here are some of the larger business-specific accreditation bodies:

A business administration degree opens up job opportunities across industries and can also lead to a career in the fast-growing field of management.

Ultimately, the job you land depends on your specialization within the field of business administration. You could end up working in marketing, tech, finance, or general business. A number of programs offer even more specialized degree programs focusing on areas like cybersecurity and AI.

Data is ubiquitous in business administration degrees, thanks to employer demand. Analytical skills are in high demand from employers, and a business administration degree will likely prepare you to meet that need.

An online bachelor of business administration degree can land you high salaries to kick off your career. For example, 2023 BBA graduates from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business made a median base salary of $100,000.

While that’s just one example from a top-tier institution, a BBA degree can land you a job in a number of high-paying fields. You can specialize in areas like cybersecurity, information technology, or analytics to meet employer needs and earn a quality return on your investment.

A master of business administration degree (MBA) has long been the gold standard in graduate business administration. That degree, coupled with work experience, can boost your earnings and career prospects with its leadership-focused curriculum.

But an MBA isn’t your only option for continuing your education. You might also pursue a master’s in management degree, which is geared toward younger professionals. Specialized master’s degrees are also popular options for early-career professionals. A master’s in business analytics, accounting, or finance can help you stand out in the job market.

A number of schools are also rolling out even further specialized master’s degrees in AI or fintech.