General Business Administration & Management graduates earn an average annual wage of $170,249, making it one of the higher-paying degree fields. With 456,720 professionals in the field earning competitive wages, this degree offers strong career prospects. The field combines competitive wages with a large and growing workforce, making it an attractive option for students seeking strong career opportunities.

Key Statistics

1,407,476
Total Degrees Awarded (2023)
Not reported in dataset
$11,790
Median In-State Public Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$30,242
Median Out-of-State Private Tuition
Not reported in dataset
$170,249
Average Wage
Not reported in dataset
456,720
People in Workforce
Not reported in dataset
N/A
Average Employee Age
Not reported in dataset

Institutions

Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in General Business Administration & Management and the types of students that study this field.

Tuition Costs for Common Institutions

$11,790 Median In-State Public

$30,242 Median Out of State Private

Tuition costs for General Business Administration & Management majors are, on average, $11,790 for in-state public colleges, and $30,242 for out of state private colleges.

Tuition costs comparison for General Business Administration & Management programs.

Degrees Awarded Over Time

1,407,476 Total Degrees Awarded in 2023

This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in General Business Administration & Management from 2015 to 2023.

Historical trend of degrees awarded in General Business Administration & Management.

Top 5 Schools by Enrollment

Schools with the largest enrollment offering General Business Administration & Management programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Tuition

# School State Tuition
1 Woodland Community College CA $1,124
2 Imperial Valley College CA $1,126
3 Yuba College CA $1,128
4 Lassen Community College CA $1,144
5 College of the Redwoods CA $1,147

Schools with the lowest tuition costs for General Business Administration & Management programs.

Top 5 Most Affordable Net Price

Schools with the lowest net price (after financial aid) for General Business Administration & Management programs.

Graduation Rates

50.75% Median Graduation Rate (150% of normal time)

51.74% Average Graduation Rate

768 Institutions Reporting

36.69% - 66.50% Interquartile Range

Graduation/completion rates for General Business Administration & Management programs across institutions.

Employment

Information on the businesses and industries that employ General Business Administration & Management graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.

Yearly Income for Common Jobs

$170,249 Average Wage in Workforce

The average salary for General Business Administration & Management majors is $170,249.

Average annual salaries of the most common occupations for General Business Administration & Management majors.

Occupations by Share

456,720 2023 Workforce

The number of General Business Administration & Management graduates in the workforce has been growing.

Various jobs filled by those with a major in General Business Administration & Management by share of the total number of graduates.

Return on Investment & Value

Financial analysis of General Business Administration & Management degree including debt, earnings, and return on investment metrics.

Financial Value Analysis

$13,532 Median Student Debt

$40,568 Median Annual Earnings (10 years after enrollment)

33.36% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio

3.3 years Estimated Payback Period (assuming 10% of income)

501.30% Return on Investment (10-year earnings vs 4-year cost)

This degree shows strong ROI, with 10-year earnings significantly exceeding the cost of education.

$67,466 Estimated Total Cost (4 years at median net price)

Financial value comparison for General Business Administration & Management degree.

Diversity

Demographic information for those who earn a degree in General Business Administration & Management in the United States.

Workforce Age

N/A Average Age in 2023

This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in General Business Administration & Management.

Age distribution for General Business Administration & Management degree holders in the workforce.

Gender Distribution

57,976 Total Degrees Awarded

28,658 Male (49.43%)

29,318 Female (50.57%)

Gender distribution of General Business Administration & Management degree recipients.

Race and Ethnicity Distribution

29,406 White (50.72%)

9,834 Hispanic or Latino (16.96%)

7,663 Black or African American (13.22%)

3,689 Asian (6.36%)

2,186 Two or More Races (3.77%)

Racial and ethnic distribution of General Business Administration & Management degree recipients.

Degrees Awarded

The most common degree types awarded to students graduating in General Business Administration & Management are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Associates Degree.

Distribution of degree types awarded in General Business Administration & Management.

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the General Business Administration & Management field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Required Skills

General Business Administration & Management majors need many skills, but most especially Critical Thinking, Active Listening, and Reading Comprehension.

Rating of how necessary various skills are for General Business Administration & Management majors.

Skills Bar Chart

This bar chart shows the same information as the radar chart, displaying the importance of each skill.

Skill importance ratings for General Business Administration & Management majors.

About

General Business Administration and Management

In 2023, 1,407,476 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs in General Business Administration & Management.

CIP Code

52.0101 - General Business Administration & Management

Insights and Analysis

Exceptional Return on Investment: General Business Administration & Management offers an outstanding ROI of 501%, meaning graduates typically earn significantly more over 10 years than the total cost of their education. This makes it one of the most financially rewarding degree choices available.

High Earning Potential: General Business Administration & Management graduates earn an average annual wage of $170,249, placing them among the top earners in the workforce. This strong earning potential reflects both the demand for skills in this field and the value employers place on this degree.

Data Sources

This page uses data from the following sources:

  • College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
    • Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
    • Employment and wage data by occupation
    • Latest data: May 2024
    • Source: bls.gov/oes
  • O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
    • Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
    • Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
    • Source: onetcenter.org
  • IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
    • Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
    • Data years: 2015-2024
    • Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
  • Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
    • Demographic and workforce data
    • Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
    • Source: census.gov/acs

Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.

Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.

Methodology

Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, IPEDS completion data, and Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.

All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Employment and wage data are from the most recent Census Bureau ACS PUMS estimates.