Is a Business Degree Worth It?

A business degree is useful in today’s workforce because it offers flexibility and career options. The core business skills you learn — like understanding how organizations operate, managing resources, and making strategic decisions — can apply across a variety of industries from healthcare and technology to finance, marketing, and management. When paired with the opportunity to specialize in areas like management and leadership, this foundational knowledge can help you grow or pivot as your career evolves.

It’s also a field with positive growth and strong earning potential. While actual local growth may vary, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects business and financial occupations to grow faster than the average for all occupations nationwide from 2024 to 2034, with more than 940,000 jobs estimated each year. The combination of projected opportunity and broadly transferable skills is just one reason a business degree continues to be such a popular choice.

And when you study business management, you could increase your potential even more. Management programs emphasize communication, decision-making, leadership, and problem-solving — all skills that help prepare you to advance your career over time.

A business management degree plus experience in the field can open doors to roles where you lead teams, solve problems, and help organizations reach their goals.

Common career paths with a management focus include:

• Analyst
• Entrepreneur
• HR manager
• Operations manager
• Project manager

In fact, in 2023, management roles were among the most common career paths for people with a business degree, according to BLS data, outpacing other business-related fields like accounting and sales.

A business management degree also gives you versatility and opportunities across other business areas, such as:

• Accounting and financial services
• Health services management
• Human resource management
• Project management
• Sales and marketing

Exploring specific career paths can help you discover how a business management degree aligns with your career goals. And understanding where management skills are most valued can help you choose the business and management courses that prepare you for today’s workforce.

The ability to lead teams, improve processes, and drive results are skills employers look for in a variety of business fields. According to BLS data, from 2024 to 2034, many management-related occupations are projected to grow across the nation at rates equal to or faster than the average 4% growth for most jobs.

While actual local growth may vary, these are some business management roles that are growing nationwide from 2024 to 2034, according to BLS:

Although general business roles and management roles both rely on strong business skills, not all business jobs are the same. Management positions often involve overseeing people, projects, or departments. General business roles like administration often focus on supporting projects, analyzing data, or applying specialized skills within a team.

Here are some examples of job titles for management-focused roles and general business careers:

In a business management degree program, you gain skills like leadership, project management, and analytical thinking, along with practical experience in managing teams and business processes. The combination of hard and soft skills prepares you to succeed in a variety of roles across industries.

Hard skills give you the technical knowledge needed to analyze data, manage budgets, and manage projects. Relevant hard skills you may learn in a business management degree program include:

• Accounting
• Analytical reasoning
• Budgeting
• Data analysis
• Financial forecasting
• Marketing basics
• Project management
• Technology software and systems

Soft skills help you solve problems, communicate clearly, and lead teams. Some soft skills you can gain in a business management degree program include:

• Communication
• Creativity
• Decision-making
• Delegation
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Time management

At DeVry, you’ll learn these essential business skills through an industry-aligned business management curriculum supported by hands-on projects, mentorship, and opportunities to build experience that goes beyond the classroom.

Many people — from those starting their education to those upskilling in their career — find a management degree worth it. And the data demonstrates the need: Management occupations are projected to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034, with about 1.1 million job openings nationally each year, according to BLS data, though actual local growth can vary.

A business management degree can help you develop skills that many employers value, such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, and project management. These strengths are helpful in traditional management roles like HR manager, operations manager, or project manager, as well as broader business careers and entrepreneurship across a variety of industries.

What’s more, when you enroll in a business program aligned with industry needs and real career opportunities, you can boost your resume with a degree focused on the future of business.

Enrolling in a business management degree program is just the beginning. Building faculty and peer relationships, leveraging career resources, and gaining experience through practical projects and internships can help you build confidence, connections, and real-world skills.

Business management careers are evolving with the emergence of AI and the changing needs of industries around the globe. Here are some examples of how business management plays a role across fields like IT, healthcare, and more: