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Online Business Degree Bachelor's in Business Administration

Matthew Seaswright, who earned his online business degree with an organizational leadership concentration, standing in the middle of a factory.

Cost per credit $330

Total courses 40

Term length 8 weeks

Program Overview Why get a business degree?

Learn to be entrepreneurial in your thinking and confident in your decision-making with a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Because this popular online degree is designed to meet the needs of today’s workforce, it prepares you for a wide range of career roles and industries.

Skills you’ll learn:

  • Management strategies
  • Global business contexts
  • Team collaboration
  • Data-driven strategies
  • Ethical business practices
  • Audience communication tactics 
Karie Lamb, holding her online business degree diploma at SNHU's 2023 commencement ceremony.

Courses & Curriculum Online business degree classes that prepare you for your career

Gain the skills you need to succeed in the modern workforce. You’ll complete the business core, which includes a variety of business-specific courses. These courses focus on 10 core competencies to prepare you for success wherever you go.

All undergraduate degrees are made up of major courses, general education classes and free electives.

Concentrations

Online business degree concentrations

Choose the general track or add one of over a dozen specializations to your bachelor’s degree.

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.

Apply for free in minutes

Our no-commitment application can help you decide if SNHU is the right college for you and your career goals. Apply up until 2 days before the term starts!

Upcoming term starts: October 28, 2024 | January 06, 2025

Next term starts:
Sept. 02, 2024

Online Student Experience What’s it like going to SNHU?

Attending college online at SNHU can be a life-changing experience. In fact, 93.2% of online students would recommend SNHU according to a 2023 survey with 21,000+ respondents.

What to expect:

8-week terms

Learn around your schedule

24/7 online support

Online Classroom

What does an online course look like?

You’ll take your courses within SNHU’s Brightspace platform. This is where you’ll find your:

  • Schedule of weekly assignments
  • Discussion boards
  • Grades
  • Instructor announcements
How to Take an Online Class at SNHU
5 ways SNHU makes the admission process "easy-peasy" #shorts

Admission Applying to SNHU is fast and free

No application fee. No test scores. And no college essay. Just a simple form with basic information. It’s another way SNHU helps you reach your goals sooner.

All it takes is 3 simple steps

It's easy, fast and free.

You’ll fill out one form to verify your high school completion or GED. Then, if you’ve attended college before, you’ll submit a form for each school so we can request your transcripts for you. (Also for free!)

After reviewing your official evaluation, you can decide if SNHU is right for you! If you choose to enroll, just pick your start date and get ready for classes to begin.

Talk to an admission counselor: 888.327.SNHU | enroll@snhu.edu

Accreditations

SNHU is accredited by the regional accreditor the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), which means we meet certain standards of academic quality, and have the tools and resources necessary for students to be successful. The university also carries specialized accreditations for some programs.

This program and its concentrations are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Student achievement data can be found on the ACBSP accreditation page.

NECHE Logo ACBSP Global Business Acreditation Logo

Tuition Cost & Savings College can be more affordable than you think

As a nonprofit university, SNHU offers some of the lowest online tuition rates in the country. And when you work with our Financial Services team, we'll explore ways to help you save even more on your education – and customize a payment plan that works for you.

Online undergraduate programs

Student
Cost per credit
Cost per course
Cost for 120-credit degree*
Full- and part-time students
$330
$990
$39,600
Active-duty military and spouses | Full- and part-time students**
$231
$693
$27,720

*before previously earned credits are applied

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually.

**Note: Students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional costs: Course materials vary by course.

Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

$9,900 $14,850 $19,800 $24,750 $29,700
Transfer credits and lower your cost by:

If 30 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $29,700

If 45 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $24,750

If 60 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $19,800

If 75 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $14,850

If 90 of your prior learning credits ($330/credit) are accepted toward your bachelor’s degree.

Your remaining tuition cost: $9,900

How we estimate your tuition cost:

We look at the cost per credit multiplied by the number of credits you need to earn for a bachelor's degree. Most bachelor's degrees require 120 credits. SNHU allows you to transfer in up to 90 credits, requiring a minimum of 30 credits to be taken at SNHU. This is only a tuition estimator, and doesn't account for other fees that may be associated with your program of choice.

Career Outlook What can I do with an online business degree?

The bachelor's in business administration program prepares you for a wide range of career options – making it one of our most popular programs. There's a need in the marketplace for professionals who know how to manage the resources of an organization or business in an effective manner.

Occupations

The online BS in Business Administration is designed to meet the needs of today’s workforce. With a solid foundation in the principles of information technology, analytical skills, legal and ethical issues, behavioral dynamics and quantitative analysis, you'll be prepared for a number of roles including:

Guide the decisions that can make a profit for people and organizations. Evaluate financial data, study economic trends and examine financial statements while focusing on a region, industry or type of product.

Gather data to conduct thorough analyses. Study up on the competition, as well as your consumers. Make data-based decisions, present your findings, support the strategies in place and offer recommendations for the organization’s leadership team.

Lead the sales team at your organization if you step into this role. Create, set and communicate your sales plans and goals, while motivating your staff to see your vision in their day-to-day work.

Keep the processes within an organization running smoothly. Become the behind-the-scenes leader as you take on tasks like planning, organizing, quality control and inventory control.

Attract, acquire and retain talent in your organization. Master your communication skills while getting into the details of training, benefits, productivity, well-being and employee culture.

900k+

Openings projected each year through 2032, according to BLS.1

$76,850

Median annual wage for business and financial occupations as of May 2022, according to BLS.1

Understanding the numbers
When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors—like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

What SNHU students are saying

Richard O'Hara '21 got his business administration degree online from SNHU while serving in the military
Richard O'Hara '21 got his business administration degree online from SNHU while serving in the military

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.

Richard O'Hara '21

Business Administration (BS)

Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers about the online business degree

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, 2019 online business degree alumMatthew 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.

Jean Bisson, who earned his online BS in Business Administration in 2014 at Southern New Hampshire University“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.

2019 online business degree graduate Marissa Markelon standing behind her motocross bikeStudents 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."

65-year-old Lynda Jarrett, who earned her online business degree from Southern New Hampshire University in 2023Worried 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.

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.

Sources & Citations

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.