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What Can I Do with a Business Management Degree? 10 Potential Career Paths

Discover the many potential job possibilities with a degree in business management. These are the most common jobs you can qualify for with a degree.

Written by Herzing Staff
Jun 30, 2020

Business is the most popular field of study for bachelor's degree students in the United States. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), business accounted for 375,400 bachelor's degrees in 2021-22 (the most recent statistical year available), or 19% of all bachelor's degrees conferred. It also ranked among the top three fields for associate degrees, behind liberal arts and sciences and health professions.

Students choose business programs because they build versatile skills that apply across many industries. The challenge with that versatility is that it can be hard to picture where your career could go after graduation.

At Herzing, we've seen graduates of our AS in Business Management and BS in Business Management programs go on to pursue exciting careers. This guide covers 10 possible paths you can prepare for when you study with us, along with what you'll learn and how to choose the degree level that fits your goals.

What You Can Learn in a Business Management Program

A business management education prepares you to understand how organizations run and how to help them run better. General education courses in areas such as English composition, information literacy, speech, college algebra and psychology build the critical thinking, communication and quantitative skills that every business role depends on.

Business courses then apply those skills to core functions such as accounting, marketing, economics and business law.

In our AS in Business Management, required business courses include:

  • Financial Management
  • Managerial Accounting
  • Business Ethics and the Legal Environment
  • Global Business Environment
  • Creating Customer Value in the Digital Age
  • Business Communication
  • Principles of Economics

The BS in Business Management builds on that foundation with upper-level courses such as:

  • Business Statistics
  • Project Management and Agile Project Management
  • Strategic Leadership
  • Operations Management
  • Change Management
  • Marketing Research
  • Data Visualization
  • Human Capital in Organizations

Both programs also explore how emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are changing the way businesses operate and make decisions.

Business Management vs. Business Administration

Business management and business administration are closely related, and many of their courses overlap. At Herzing, the distinction is primarily one of emphasis. As we explain in our guide to business administration vs. management, business administration focuses on planning and organizing business goals and operations from a strategic view, while business management emphasizes day-to-day operations and people management skills.

 Business ManagementBusiness Administration
General aimBuild practical skills for managing people, projects and daily operationsPlan and organize business goals and operations from a strategic, big-picture view
Course topicsProject management, operations management, change management, human capital and marketing researchAccounting, economics, marketing and finance, with a focus on how these functions connect
Types of rolesHands-on management and specialist roles in offices, manufacturing, healthcare and other settingsRoles that call for a broad understanding of the whole business

Career Options for Associate Degree Graduates

An AS in Business Management prepares you for entry-level support roles that keep businesses running. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects about 1.7 million annual job openings in office and administrative support occupations between 2025 and 2035 as companies replace workers who retire or move into other fields.

Many of these roles require only a high school diploma, so an associate degree may help you stand out from other applicants.

1. Bookkeeping, Accounting and Auditing Clerks

Bookkeeping, accounting and auditing clerks compute, classify and record data to help organizations keep complete and accurate financial records. Depending on the employer, they may manage an entire set of books or focus on specific tasks such as accounts payable, payroll or billing.

2. Financial Clerks

Financial clerks keep financial records, assist customers and carry out transactions that involve money. The category includes billing and posting clerks, payroll and timekeeping clerks, loan clerks and insurance claims clerks, among others.

3. Secretaries and Administrative Assistants

Secretaries and administrative assistants handle the clerical and organizational work that helps an office run efficiently, from scheduling appointments and preparing reports to maintaining databases and performing basic bookkeeping. Some specialize as executive administrative assistants, providing high-level support to an organization's top leaders.

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Career Options for Bachelor's Degree Graduates

A bachelor's degree opens the door to a wider range of entry-level, management-track roles. According to the BLS, each of the seven careers below typically requires a bachelor's degree to enter the field.

4. Budget Analysts

Budget analysts help public and private organizations plan their finances. They review budget proposals, monitor spending and estimate future financial needs, giving decision-makers the information they need to set funding levels.

5. Financial Analysts

Financial analysts evaluate financial data, study economic and business trends and prepare reports with recommendations for businesses and investors. The BLS projects employment in this field to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.

6. Project Management Specialists

Project management specialists coordinate the budget, schedule and other details of a project, guide the work of team members and often serve as the main point of contact for clients. If this path interests you, the CAPM and PMI-ACP certifications aligned with our bachelor’s degree coursework can help you show employers what you know.

7. Compensation, Benefits and Job Analysis Specialists

Compensation, benefits and job analysis specialists oversee the pay and benefits programs an organization offers its employees. They research compensation trends, compare benefits plans, evaluate job descriptions to determine classification and salary and help ensure the organization complies with federal and state laws. The BLS notes that these roles typically call for some related work experience in addition to a bachelor's degree.

8. Management Analysts

Management analysts, often called management consultants, recommend ways to make organizations more efficient and profitable. They gather information, analyze financial and operational data and present solutions to leadership. The BLS projects employment to grow 10% from 2025 to 2035, and like compensation specialists, management analysts typically need some related work experience.

9. Market Research Analysts

Market research analysts study consumer preferences and business conditions to help companies understand what products people want, who will buy them and at what price. They design surveys, analyze data with statistical software and turn their findings into charts and reports, which connects directly to the marketing research and data visualization courses in our bachelor’s program.

10. Logisticians

Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization's supply chain, overseeing purchasing, transportation, inventory and warehousing to move products from supplier to consumer. The BLS projects employment to grow 18% from 2025 to 2035, the fastest growth of any career on this list.

This path may appeal to service members and veterans. The federal government is one of the largest employers of logisticians, and the BLS notes that some logisticians gain relevant experience while serving in the military. Certain certifications are also required for Department of Defense acquisitions work.

Industry Certification Opportunities for Bachelor’s Students

You can stand out in the job market by earning industry certifications, too. Our BS in Business Management includes coursework aligned with several certification exams:

  • Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP)
  • Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)
  • Microsoft Power BI Data Analyst Associate
  • SHRM Talent Acquisition Specialty Credential
  • Tableau Desktop Certificate

Complete the required coursework, and we'll reimburse your application fees for up to three of these certifications once you submit proof that you've passed the exam.

If you plan to move into executive leadership, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) can help you build strategic, executive-level skills. Qualifying students can apply up to 12 credits toward an MBA while earning their bachelor’s with us, which can reduce the time and cost of finishing a graduate degree later.

Associate vs. Bachelor's in Business Management: How to Choose

The right degree for you depends on three main factors:

  • How quickly you want a credential. Our AS takes about 20 months, while the BS takes an average of 36 months. If you want to start your job search sooner, the AS may be the better fit.
  • Whether you have prior credit to transfer. You can transfer up to 90 approved credits into the BS and up to 45 into the AS. If you've already completed college coursework, the BS may be within closer reach than you expect.
  • What your long-term goals are. If you're still exploring business, the AS gives you a solid foundation, and its required business courses also appear in the BS curriculum. If you know you want to lead, consider the BS and work to qualify for MBA dual credit.

Associate vs. Bachelor's in Business Management Compared

 AS in Business ManagementBS in Business Management
Credits60120
Time to completeAbout 20 months36 months (average)
Application requirementsHigh school diploma, GED or equivalent; demonstrated college readiness (ACT/SAT scores, prior college credit or entrance testing); interview with an admissions advisorHigh school diploma, GED or equivalent; demonstrated college readiness (ACT/SAT scores, prior college credit or entrance testing); interview with an admissions advisor
Industry certification alignmentN/AFive industry certifications, with application fee reimbursement for up to three
Transfer creditUp to 45 approved creditsUp to 90 approved credits
MBA dual creditN/AUp to 12 credits for qualifying students
Main outcomeEntry-level business support roles and a foundation for a bachelor’s degreeEntry-level, management-track roles and a foundation for an MBA

Whichever option you choose, you’ll benefit from Herzing’s commitment to your success. Our business degree programs, including the AS and BS in Business Management, are accredited by the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE).✝

We’re also ranked among the best schools in the nation for online bachelor’s degrees in business for 2026 by U.S. News & World Report. 

Frequently Asked Questions

An associate degree can prepare you for entry-level support roles such as bookkeeping clerk, financial clerk or administrative assistant. Many of these positions require only a high school diploma, so a degree may help you stand out to employers.

A bachelor's degree can prepare you for entry-level, management-track roles in areas such as finance, budgeting, project management, human resources, consulting, market research and logistics. The BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for many of these careers.

It depends on the role. The BLS projects several bachelor's-level careers to grow much faster than average from 2025 to 2035, including logisticians and management analysts. Office and administrative support roles are projected to decline overall, but the need to replace workers will still create openings each year.

Business administration takes a broad, strategic view of how business functions connect. Business management focuses on practical, people-focused skills for running day-to-day operations.

At Herzing, our Associate of Science in Business Management takes about 20 months, and our bachelor’s takes an average of 36 months. Transferring approved credits may shorten your time to completion.

At Herzing, it can. Qualifying bachelor’s students may apply up to 12 credits of approved graduate-level coursework toward an MBA.

See What a Business Management Degree from Herzing Makes Possible

Find out more about earning your AS or BS in Business Management online with Herzing. Or, if you're ready to take the next step, get in touch with an admissions advisor to start your application.

Discover Herzing's University Business Management programs

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IACBE Logo

✝The Business Division at Herzing University has received specialized accreditation for its business programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) located at 11960 Quivira Road in Overland Park, Kansas, USA. For a list of accredited programs please refer to our IACBE member status page.

* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2025. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.

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