Is a Business Management Degree Worth It?

A business management degree can help prepare you for a range of career opportunities across numerous industries, including positions leading people. Graduates of business management degree programs can pursue careers in finance, human resources, information security, marketing and more. Within those careers, a degree in business management can lead to a variety of occupations, including as a business analyst, financial planner, data analyst, human resources manager or accountant.

Many of the fields that a business management degree can help prepare you for are growing. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in business and financial operations occupations from 2019 to 2029 is projected to grow faster, on a national level, than the average for all occupations.² For example, the employment outlook for management analysts is projected to grow, on a national level, 11% from 2019 to 2029.³

If you are wondering whether it is really necessary to have a degree to pursue a career in business management, consider this: In a U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics listing of more than a dozen business and financial occupations, only one does not, in general, require at least a bachelor’s degree.⁴

So what should you expect to learn in a business management degree program? Many of the skills that are typically taught can be directly applied to today’s business environment, including critical thinking, mathematical reasoning, administrative management, as well as more specific skills like budgeting and forecasting, and project management. Depending on your area of focus, what you will learn will cater to that specific field.

Some might think that people in a business management career are natural-born leaders. For some that may be the case, but the soft skills needed to succeed can be learned too. Those skills include the ability to lead people, a willingness to take risks and learn from failures, and a keen sense of self-awareness to know when to take control and when to delegate. Other qualities that can lead to success in business management include effective time management, the ability to prioritize, and the ability to drive toward and meet business goals.

To be as successful as possible while earning a business management degree, as well as after you graduate, make full use of all the resources and people available to you. Develop close relationships with faculty and students, many of whom could become your professional peers in the future. Lean on the student support services available to you as well. At DeVry, those support services include live tutoring available 24/7 and dedicated student support and career services advisors who are with you every step of the way.

While earning a degree in business management does require an investment of time, it may be less than you think. For example, at DeVry our Bachelor’s Degree in Management can be completed in as little as 2 years and 8 months⁵, and even faster with qualifying transfer credits. Remember, earning a degree can be an investment in your future. The sooner you make the investment, the sooner you can answer the question for yourself: “Is a business management degree worth it?”