We created OnlineBusinessDegreeGuide.com with one goal in mind: to help students find the right business degree programs for their needs. Whether you are a new graduate, looking to change careers, or planning to climb the corporate ladder, earning your degree requires two assets that can be in short supply: time and money.

To help, we first identified which accredited colleges offer business degree programs that can be earned 100% online. Over the years, and especially as of late with the COVID-19 pandemic, online learning has grown and is quickly becoming the new standard. As such, many of the colleges we reviewed offer flexible schedules, self-paced learning, and 24/7 classroom access. In other words, we looked at programs that work with your busy life rather than against it. We then focused on affordability, comparing tuition down to their cost per unit, and pinpointed the colleges that offer the best value. We also factored in the acceptance of credit transfers and the availability of financial aid. The result was our list of the Top 5 Colleges for Online Business Degree Programs.

Regardless of where you are in life right now, achieving your goals in the business world should be within reach -- and one of the best ways in advancing forward is earning, or finishing, your degree. We hope that this list makes your decision easier and gets you started on your path towards success.

Getting a degree in business is a career move that can open up the entire professional world. This field will give you a strong background in marketing, financial analysis, logical and creative problem-solving, and interpersonal communication -- all invaluable skills that are easily applicable to any sector. This kind of degree flexibility is not only rare but invaluable in today’s career world, as technological and industrial advancements continue to transform what it means to be a working professional.

A business degree can come in many forms -- including business, finance, accounting, economics, management, marketing -- each with its own unique advantages and points of focus, but all offering great potential for a high-paying, dynamic career. For those willing to dive in deep, careers in this field will allow you to hone your professional skills, become an expert in your industry, and gain the satisfaction of driving your company or product to success, all while maintaining a sense of freedom and mobility in both your everyday work and in your advancement options.

Regardless of which job path you ultimately choose, business is a high-income field that will continue to see major job growth throughout the next decade. For those willing to put in some time and effort, the benefits of entering the field of business are many. Here are just a few of the possible careers a business degree could offer you:

1. Becoming a Marketing Manager: Business or Marketing Degrees

   A marketing manager is in charge of all marketing efforts within a company or for a product. As this is not an entry-level job, the expectations for a marketing manager can be high – they must be able to analyze the market and their customer base in order to ideate and implement unique, effective marketing plans for their product or company. Their plans must fit within a budget, making financial awareness a must. Adaptability is also key when it comes to this role, as marketing strategies are ever-changing and most campaigns require significant monitoring in order to become and remain successful. Interpersonal skills are another must, both for the sake of employee management if applicable, and in order to convince others of their campaign ideas.

   Education: Marketing managers typically start with a bachelor’s, whether in business, marketing, or a related field. They need notable work experience in marketing or something related before being promoted to management, and they will be expected to be highly knowledgeable of the industry they’re working in. It’s not uncommon for marketing managers to also hold an MBA or a master’s degree in marketing.

   Median Pay: $135,030

   Job Growth: Marketing manager positions are expected to grow by 10% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than average⁽¹⁾⁽⁷⁾.

2. Becoming an Actuary: Actuarial Sciences or Mathematics Degrees

   Using mathematics and statistics, actuaries assess risk and associated costs. Most actuaries work for insurance companies, and it’s common for them to choose a specialization within insurance, whether it’s home insurance, life insurance, medical insurance, etc. IT skills are a must as using complex modeling and statistics programs will be necessary, and communication skills will be needed in explaining their findings to others.

   Education: Actuaries are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in either actuarial sciences or another mathematics field. From there, they must pass exams through the Society of Actuaries (SOA) or the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS). For an entry-level role, a minimum of three of these exams must be passed, but to be certified as an associate actuary, there are seven exams. Beyond that, an actuary must have passed ten exams in total to be fully certified as a fellowship actuary.

   Median Pay: $105,900

   Job Growth: Actuary positions are expected to increase by 21% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than average⁽²⁾.

3. Becoming a Financial Analyst: Business or Mathematics Degrees

   By looking through data, keeping track of the market, and being aware of any changes in their industry or the economy as a whole, financial analysts advise the company they work for in their financial decisions, including investments. It’s imperative that, aside from the obvious mathematical and economical knowledge they need to possess, a financial analyst has top-notch communication skills, both because they will need to explain complex information to others and because networking is a major factor in boosting one’s career in this field.

   Education: Financial analysts generally earn a bachelor’s related to mathematics, and many go on to earn certificates in order to improve their chances of employment and to earn a higher salary. Certificate options include the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA), Series 7, and Series 63. Going back to school for an MBA is another common choice.

   Median Pay: $95,570

   Job Growth: Financial analyst positions are expected to grow by 9% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than average⁽³⁾.

4. Becoming a Management Analyst: Business or Finance Degrees

   Management analysts advise their company on ways to increase profitability. They analyze how the budget is being spent and how much revenue is being collected in order to suggest ways to increase revenue and decrease spending. If an idea is implemented, they must keep track of its progress in order to make any necessary changes. Management analysts must have significant analytical skills as well as interpersonal skills, as they will need to be able to explain their ideas in a way that both makes sense and garners trust from others in order to be successful.

   Education: Management analysts generally have at least a bachelor’s in either finance or business, and many go on to earn a master’s degree. Beyond education, they typically need prior work experience within their industry.

   Median Pay: $93,000

   Job Growth: Management analyst positions are forecasted to grow by 11% between 2021 and 2031, which is much faster than the average rate⁽⁴⁾.

5. Becoming an Accountant: Accounting Degrees

   Accountants are in charge of any financial documentation or calculations within a company and are expected to keep up with relevant laws and regulations regarding company spending. Some accountants choose to focus on a specialized area of accounting, such as corporate accounting or environmental accounting, but in general they must be detail savvy and have advanced bookkeeping skills.

   Education: Becoming an accountant requires an accounting or mathematics bachelor’s degree. For those interested in a higher salary, going on to become a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) should be seriously considered. The CPA exam takes months of preparation, but the competitive edge it offers appeals to many.

   Median Pay: $77,250

   Job Growth: Accountant openings are expected to grow by 6% between 2021 and 2031, which is about average⁽⁵⁾.

6. Becoming a Human Resources Specialist: Business or Human Resources Degrees

   Human resources specialists are in charge of employee and company relations. They handle interviewing, benefits explanations and disputes, and employee training. As this role is entirely focused on human relations, having advanced interpersonal skills is imperative, particularly when dealing with a complaint or allegation of misbehavior within the company. HR specialists must also be detail-oriented, as they’ll need to keep track of company and legal regulations.

   Education: Human resource specialists should have a bachelor’s in HR, business, or a related study.

   Median Pay: $62,290

   Job Growth: Human resources positions are expected to grow by 8% between 2021 and 2031, which is faster than average⁽⁶⁾.