Business Degrees, College, Career Options—and You

No matter what your interests, career goals or talents, you will be able to make the most out of a business degree. College advisors recommend selecting an area of study that aligns with your intended career so that you stay motivated while in school and increase your chances of success in your job search after graduation. There are lots of jobs available for creative types, natural-born leaders and globe-trotters as well as finance whizzes. Some of the most popular business degree majors are in:

• Business Administration
• Accounting
• Human Resources
• Finance
• International Business
• Management
• Marketing

College graduates earn, on average, 75 percent more than people with a high school diploma. People who go on to earn more advanced business degrees such as the Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master of Accounting (MAcc) will statistically have even greater financial success on average than those without a college degree.

Having a background in general business theory combined with specialized instruction in your chosen field heightens the value of your business degree.

Employers want employees who are not only book smart, but who can also apply what they learned in the real world. Hands-on, group projects solving real business problems should be an ample part of the curriculum for a business degree. College leaders know this and often build it into their business programs. But don't rely on the university alone to provide you with all of your business experience—add work experience to your résumé from part time jobs and/or summer internships.