Online Business Degree Bachelor's in Business Administration

Learn how to solve business challenges by helping organizations manage their finances with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Businesses recognize employees who have sound financial, accounting and management knowledge as well as language and computer skills. Professionals with adequate accounting knowledge work with middle and upper management and in public accounting, where complex financial transactions are analyzed and reported. The accounting concentration is ideal for students who wish to supplement their business administration major with specialized accounting skills.

The business and accounting degree curriculum provides both an accounting and general business course of study. With the accounting concentration, you'll develop knowledge and skills in financial accounting practices, complete the accounting cycle, prepare complex financial statements, identify and correct financial reporting issues, create budgets and conduct ratio analyses to assess financial information.

Accelerated BS-to-MS Course Option
In this concentration, students have the option to take a graduate level course (ACC550 - Cost Accounting) during their undergraduate degree program. This allows students who may be interested in pursing their MS Accounting at SNHU to get a jump-start. Credit for this course can be directly applied to a students' graduate program, and this course is also offered at the undergraduate tuition rate. Students are encouraged to work with their advisor to explore graduate degree opportunities

Career outlook:

With your specialized business administration degree from SNHU, you’ll be in a great position to begin a career in public accounting and private industry. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in accounting and auditing is expected to grow 4% through 2032.¹ The BLS also projects business and financial occupations to grow faster than average through 2032.¹

Courses may include:

• Cost Accounting
• Intermediate Accounting
• Financial Statement Analysis/Business Valuation

If you're interested in this subject, you may also be interested in a full online accounting degree.

Gain the skills you need to start and manage your own business with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. This concentration is perfect for natural leaders looking for the foundation they need to bring their startup ideas to life.

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in entrepreneurship online.

Courses may include:

• Small Business Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Business Plan Preparation

Invest in your future with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance.

Corporations in every industry seek employees who understand the complexity of economic activity and the demands facing all firms to take a bottom-line perspective. With a business finance degree from SNHU, you'll be prepared to fill these roles. This program is ideal for students who wish to transfer credits, switch to finance from another field or supplement an existing degree with a bachelor's in business.

You'll learn how to apply theory to the real world of international and domestic finance. You'll also develop the analytical and quantitative skills needed for corporate and individual financial management industries.

Career outlook:

SNHU's online business finance degree will prepare you to pursue a wide variety of business- and finance-related careers such as:

• Accountant
• Budget analyst
• Financial advisor
• Loan officer
• Cost estimator

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for financial analysts are projected to grow 8% through 2032.¹

Courses may include:

• Personal Financial Planning
• Fundamentals of Investment
• Multinational Corporate Finance

If you're interested in this concentration, you may also be interested in a full online finance degree.

Take the first step toward a rewarding career in one of the fastest-growing industries with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Healthcare Administration.

Healthcare is a booming industry. According to the BLS, employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2032.¹ As the aging population continues to grow, so does the need for educated healthcare leaders who can help plan, direct and coordinate health services and improve patient care.

This program helps students build a foundation in business with an added focus in healthcare. Coursework covers topics such as healthcare delivery systems, reimbursement, ethics, quality management, and research and evaluation methods.

Career outlook:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is projected to grow 28% through 2032 – much faster than the national average for all occupations.¹

SNHU's healthcare business administration program prepares you for a variety of roles, such as community health manager, health policy analyst, health promotion specialist, health services manager and medical services administrator. Positions exist in various settings, including:

• Behavioral health organizations
• Consulting firms
• Governmental healthcare agencies
• Health insurance companies
• Hospitals
• Long-term care facilities
• National health associations
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Physician offices

Courses may include:

• Healthcare Economics
• Healthcare Strategic Management & Policy
• Organizational Behavior

If you're interested in this concentration, you may also be interested in a full healthcare administration degree online.

Learn how to effectively support any organization's team with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management. You'll gain the specialized skills you need to succeed in any industry – whether it's the private, nonprofit or government sector.

The HR concentration is also aligned to the Society for Human Resource Management's Body of Applied Skills & Knowledge™ (SHRM BASK™) competencies, which incorporate global HR viewpoints to establish critical competencies and content areas.

Included within the coursework are 3 certifications from content partner, the Human Resource Certification Institute^® (HRCI^®):

• HR Ethics Series: Common Ethical Challenges
• HR Ethics Series: Issues in the Workplace
• Negotiations: Resolving Disputes

If you're interested in HR, you may also be interested in a full online human resources degree.

Career outlook:

In human resources, it's all about one thing: people. That's because you'll work with employees all across your organization.

To succeed in the profession, you'll want to learn compliance and labor law, employee benefits programs, and talent acquisition and offboarding – among other skills.

Roles you may be qualified for include:

• HR managers: In this role, you'd be responsible for administrative functions, acquiring new talent, consulting on strategic planning, and serving as point of contact between management and employees. In 2022, they earned a median of $130,000 a year, while employment is expected to increase 5% through 2032.¹
• HR specialists: You'll recruit, screen and interview job applicants, place newly hired workers in jobs, and handle compensation and benefits, training and employee relations. In 2022, the median annual salary was $64,240, and employment could see a 6% increase through 2032.¹
• Training and development specialists: Plan and administer the programs that train employees and improve their skills and knowledge. In 2022, they earned a $63,080 median salary, and jobs could increase 6% through 2032 – faster than the average for all positions.¹

Courses may include:

• Human Resource Functions
• Creating the Employee Experience
• Employee and Labor Relations

Help improve productivity in your business with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Industrial Organizational Psychology.  This specialized concentration is perfect for students looking for a degree that blends their love of business with psychology.

Learn more about earning your industrial organizational psychology business degree.

Courses may include:

• Introduction to Psychology
• Human Resource Functions
• Leadership and Motivation in the Workplace

Because of the subject overlap, this concentration is available to students in both the online business administration degree program and the online psychology degree program.

This grants you the choice to determine which core degree program suits you best while maintaining the opportunity to specialize in industrial organizational psychology.

This approach allows for a tailored educational experience, aligning with your specific interests and career goals.

Drive business beyond borders with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in International Business. In an increasingly globalized society, this specialized degree can give you the foundation you need to understand and appeal to multinational markets.

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in international business online.

Courses may include:

• Global Financial Systems
• Multinational Marketing
• International Strategic Management

Bridge the gap between the technical and business aspects of management information systems (MIS) with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Management Information Systems. This concentration explores client systems, programming, data and business intelligence tools that can help you drive business decisions.

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in management information systems online.

Courses may include:

• Applied Data Structure and Database
• Business Systems Applications
• Business Intelligence Applications

Capture the hearts and minds of consumers with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing.

This specialized marketing concentration will introduce you to areas such as market research, social media marketing and communication and consumer behavior, so you can be prepared for a variety of careers in the fast-paced and ever-evolving field of marketing.

With a marketing-focused business degree under your belt, you'll have the skills required for a variety of entry- and mid-level marketing roles in advertising, customer relations, market research, product/brand management, product distribution, purchasing, retail management and sales.

The curriculum for this marketing concentration focuses on developing effective leadership tools for survival, growth, increased productivity and conflict management in today's increasingly complex business environment. By combining broad-based business courses with marketing courses, you'll learn how to apply theory to real-world situations.

Career outlook:

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment for advertising, promotions and marketing managers is expected to increase by 6% through 2032.¹ With new opportunities opening up in the field of digital media marketing, the potential for marketing professionals to reach even wider audiences continues to rise.

Courses may include:

• Social Media and Marketing Communications
• Marketing Research
• Consumer Behavior

If you're interested in this concentration, you may also be interested in a full online marketing degree.

Make it your mission to empower nonprofit organizations with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Nonprofit Management.

With a concentration in nonprofit management, you'll benefit from a curriculum focused on the skills you need to achieve organizational goals within the nonprofit world. Nonprofit management courses can help you master grant writing, government and nonprofit accounting, nonprofit management and entrepreneurship. Developed in cooperation with business professionals, these courses are designed to provide real-world expertise taught by instructors with credentials and experience in the field.

Career outlook:

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for social and community service managers are projected to grow 9% through 2032 – much faster than the national average for all occupations.¹

The nonprofit field is as versatile as it is rewarding. You’ll find valuable roles in human resources, public relations, accounting, grant writing and more within a variety of organizations, including hospitals, universities and social organizations.

Courses may include:

• Human Resource Management
• Social Environment of Business
• Organizational Behavior

Manage organizational growth with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership. This specialized program can give you the foundation you need to effectively lead employers through times of change and help inform strategic decisions. 

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in organizational leadership online.

Courses may include:

• Principles of Management
• Business Plan Preparation
• Leadership and Organizational Behavior

Take charge and motivate productivity in the ever-evolving business world with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Project Management. You'll learn how to keep the ball rolling in every aspect of the project life cycle – from ideation and implementation to assessing outcomes.

As part of this project management concentration, you'll have the option to take the QSO-345: Project Management for CAPM^® Certification course, which will help prepare you to take the PMI® Certified Associate in Project Management^® exam.

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in project management online.

Courses may include:

• Project Management
• Project Contracting and Procurement
• Adaptive Project Management

Make public service your bottom line with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Public Administration. This specialized concentration is perfect for civic-minded students who want to use business as a vehicle for social change.

Learn more about earning your business administration degree in public administration online.

Courses may include:

• Policy Analysis and the Role of the Public
• American Politics
• Public Fiscal Management

Reach your career goals with an online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration with a concentration in Sport Management.

With a degree focused on sports management, you'll be prepared to handle a number of areas of the business that come your way, like media, merchandising, hospitality and event management.

Adding a sport management concentration to your business degree can give you the opportunity to develop the skills you'll need to succeed in this fast-paced profession. Our program combines our long-standing, comprehensive business education with the sport management principles that allow you to ethically address business needs in sport organizations.

Career outlook:

The sports industry is a growing one. Sports and entertainment occupations are projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2023.¹ The increasing popularity of sports is driving the need for qualified professionals with a specialized skill set.

Completion of your online sports business degree can open many career opportunities in the field, including marketing, sales, operations and finance management for professional sports organizations, sporting goods manufacturers, intercollegiate athletics, parks and recreation departments, and fitness facility management. A well-rounded business degree with a focus on sports management skills is essential in this rapidly growing field.

Courses may include:

• Introduction to Sport Management
• Sport Marketing
• Sport, Society and Ethics

If you're interested in this subject, you may also be interested in a full online sports management degree.

Flexible

With no set class meeting times, you can learn on your schedule and access online course materials 24/7.

Affordable

As part of our mission to make higher education more accessible, we’re committed to keeping our tuition rates low. In fact, we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Prior coursework could also help you save time and money. SNHU’s transfer policy allows you to transfer up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's degree and 45 credits for an associate degree from your previous institutions—that means you could save up to 75% off the cost of tuition. You could also save time and money by getting college credit for previous work experience, or by taking advantage of military discounts and employer tuition assistance if available to you.

Respected

Founded in 1932, Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with over 160,000 graduates across the country. SNHU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), a regional accreditor, which advocates for institutional improvement and public assurance of quality. 

Recently, SNHU has been nationally recognized for leading the way toward more innovative, affordable and achievable education:

• U.S. News & World Report named SNHU the 2021 Most Innovative University in the North and one of the nation's "Best Regional Universities"
• Awarded the 21st Century Distance Learning Award for Excellence in Online Technology by The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA)
• A $1 million grant from Google.org to explore soft skills assessments for high-need youth

Network

At Southern New Hampshire University, you'll have access to a powerful network of more than 300,000 students, alumni and staff that can help support you long after graduation. Our instructors offer relevant, real-world expertise to help you understand and navigate the field. Plus, with our growing, nationwide alumni network, you'll have the potential to tap into a number of internship and career opportunities.

93.6% of online students would recommend SNHU (according to a 2022 survey with 17,000+ respondents). Discover why SNHU may be right for you.

Expanding access to quality higher education means removing the barriers that may stand between you and your degree. That’s why you can apply at any time and get a decision within days of submitting all required materials:

• Completed free undergraduate application
• Prior transcripts, which we can retrieve at no cost to you
• Test scores are not required as part of your application

Acceptance decisions are made on a rolling basis throughout the year for our 6 (8-week) undergraduate terms.

If you’re ready to apply, follow these simple steps to get the process going:

• Complete a free undergraduate application
• Submit any additional documents required
• Work with an admission counselor to explore financial options and walk through the application process

If you have questions or need help filling out your application, call 1.888.387.0861 or email enroll@snhu.edu.

Notes: 

• Laptop or desktop?  Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility. 

• Note:  Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10. 

• Office 365 Pro Plus is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for Microsoft 365 plans for business, education and government. 

• Antivirus software: Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers. 

We believe the "best" online college for a business degree is the one that works best for you. At SNHU, we strive to give students everything they'll need to succeed while earning their business degree and long after. Here are a few things to consider when deciding if SNHU is right for you:

• Our online tuition rates are some of the lowest in the nation.
• We offer about 100 associate, bachelor's and master's-level online business school programs – each uniquely built to fit the busy lives of learners
• From our online MBA to bachelor's in business administration and numerous business associate degrees, business is our forte – and has been since we started as a small accounting school back in 1932.
• Our business programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP)
• We're leaders of online education – and our innovative online programs have been celebrated by U.S. News & World Report, The United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) and Fast Company

Matthew Seawright '19 chose Southern New Hampshire University to finish his business degree because he said it offered him the best opportunity to learn the skills he needed to succeed in the modern workplace.

“By going back to school it put me in the know and on a level playing field with my peers,” he said. “It taught more about the business world, especially today’s business world.”

For Jean Besson '14, who earned his BS in Business Administration, finishing a degree gave him the fuel he needed to get his foot in the door.

"My degree from SNHU is a confidence booster. It gives me the right to sit at the table and ask questions," Besson said. "My breakthrough moment was having that degree from SNHU. It allowed me to say, 'OK, I'm qualified.'"

If you're looking to earn an online business degree, you've come to the right place.

Not only do we offer the BS in Business Administration with several concentration options, we also offer 200+ online bachelor's, master's and associate degrees across many high-demand fields, including 18 MBA programs. It's worth noting that graduates of SNHU's online BS in Business Administration will have earned all the foundation classes they need to continue on to our MBA. So if you know you want to earn your master's, or decide down the line to take your education even further, we can help you get there.

Students from all across the globe have chosen to learn online at SNHU – giving them a flexible, affordable alternative to a traditional classroom experience. For some, taking the next step in their career wouldn't be possible without the option to learn online.

That's the case with Marissa Markelon '19. A winner of two women's motocross championships, Markelon needed a program she could complete on the road between races.

"It helped me learn how to better utilize time management," Markelon said. "It made me realize I was capable of more than I believed."

Worried you don't have enough technological experience to enroll in the program? Don't be. 

"I loved the program. I loved that it was online," said Lynda Jarrett '23. "Being 65 and being challenged by having to do everything online and learn the computer was a little intimidating at first, but then I realized that I could do it — just like everyone else."

A foundation in business can help prepare you for any number of occupations or industries. Ultimately, though, whether or not a business degree is "worth it" depends entirely on you and your goals.

For Bambi Dixon '19, the answer is clear:

"I feel that my degree was 100% worth the time, money, sacrifice and energy that was needed to complete it," she said. "I have never cried when receiving a piece of mail until I opened the envelope from SNHU that contained my diploma."

Upon graduating, Dixon continued her journey with SNHU – this time as a student of the MS in Healthcare Administration program.

"I have always been a strong proponent of education and feel that we should all continue to learn and expand our horizons in order to continue to evolve as a human race and will continue to encourage the path of education to anyone that seeks it," she said.

Richard O'Hara '21 echoes that sentiment.

"I do feel that this degree program was worth it because the classes are designed to set you up for an administration role in business. All of the tools provided in the program are the foundation of a successful business administrator."

O'Hara, who plans to open his own business after he retires from the military, has even started to spread the word.

"I would recommend this program to others and in fact already have," he said. "I believe this program is better suited for the future business professional and I would recommend this program over any other schools."

Typically, a 120-credit bachelor's degree in business takes about 4 years to complete.

But at SNHU, every student journey is different. If you have previous credits you'd like to transfer into your program, for example, we're happy to work with you.

On average, students transferring into our BS in Business Administration program bring in about 40 transfer credits. That said, SNHU accepts up to 90 credits toward your bachelor's, meaning you could have as few as 10 courses – and as few as 5 terms – to get your degree. With only 10 courses to complete and six 8-week terms per year, you could earn your bachelor's from SNHU in just over a year saving you time and money.

We try to make online learning as seamless and quick as you want it to be. Because we believe, no matter where you've started, SNHU is where you can finish strong – and save time and tuition along the way.

We believe that cost should never stand in the way of your education. That's why we offer some of the lowest online tuition rates in the nation.

Our rate is $330 per credit, and a bachelor's in business requires 120 credits to complete. That said, there are plenty of ways to manage and save – even on these already low rates – such as grants and scholarships, financial aid, transfer credits and more.

Plus, if you're a military service member or a military spouse, you could be eligible for a number of military benefits – including up to 30% tuition discounts.

¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, on the internet, at:

• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/accountants-and-auditors.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/financial-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/home.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)\
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/human-resources-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/human-resources-specialists.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/training-and-development-specialists.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/advertising-promotions-and-marketing-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/home.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)
• https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/home.htm (viewed Nov. 7, 2023)

Cited projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.