Five diverse businesspeople in line of chairs looking at phones, tablets, laptop

Exploring the Modern-Day Value of a Business Degree

A tried-and-true Business degree is as relevant now as it ever was. Here's what to know about pursuing this career path and the skills to gain to succeed.

A Business degree will always be relevant because our world is built on the barter system. If someone makes a product, others will buy it. Commerce continues to thrive regardless of the era, inevitably bouncing back even after recessions. Earning a Business degree in college can give you a good foundation for how the economy works and teach you skills to help address real-world problems. Let’s delve into why it's still worth pursuing Business in this day and age and how you can start building your skills now.

The modern worth of a Business degree

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment in business and financial jobs to grow faster than the average for other occupations between 2022–2032. Each year, about 911,400 positions will be available for jobseekers. Moreover, some job sectors pay close to six figures yearly, like a financial analyst role with a median wage of $99,890 or a personal finance advisor position, where you can take home an average of $99,580. If you're still wondering why you should study Business in college, let’s explore how pursuing a Business degree can open paths to diverse career advancements, skill development, and networking opportunities—all of which will likely land you a secure place in a variety of occupations.

Diverse career opportunities

The best part about earning a Business degree is having access to a wide range of career paths. Depending on your specific major or concentration, you could get a job as a cost estimator, financial analyst, human resource specialist, insurance underwriter, and so much more. And unlike other degrees, you’ll have more options to grow your career, both vertically and horizontally. You can broaden your experiences and expertise by taking various roles in and out of your specialization—for example, an HR specialist who’s also a cost estimator. It's completely possible for a Business graduate to hop from one career to another as long as you develop the required skills. Alternatively, you can advance by climbing the professional ladder. For instance, an HR specialist could be promoted to Manager, President, or Chief People Officer.

Related: How to Make the Most of an Undergraduate Business Degree

Skill development

Students who study Business develop core critical skills in college, like communication, problem-solving, and analytical thinking. Business courses provide you real-world case studies to analyze with professors who will help you delve into theoretical knowledge and how to apply it in practical scenarios. You’ll be involved in project presentations and public speaking activities, which provide excellent practice to hone your verbal communication skills and gain confidence in a people-facing environment. In short, Business graduates have knowledge and real-world experiences to back it up in a professional career.

Networking opportunities

You'll often find Businesspeople at the center of conversations anywhere. That’s because a good businessperson understands the significance of a quality network for a thriving career. As a Business student, you’ll learn to leverage alumni networks and attend events to build your professional orbit. This professional network will be crucial to your postgraduate success as you figure out your career goals and start applying for positions. However, professional networking can sometimes lead to social boundary-crossing and turn your opportunities into a double-edged sword. Experts have found Social Science and Business majors were associated with more substance use behaviors than students in STEM, the humanities, and arts fields. Excessive drug and alcohol use greatly reduces the chance of graduating. We say this only to make you aware and careful of who you keep in your professional circle and how you use these connections.

Related: How to Network With Your College's Alumni on LinkedIn

The skills of a good businessperson

Before you even start your degree, you can work on becoming the type of businessperson a modern workplace needs and organization leaders require by learning these skills:

  • Navigating economic uncertainty: Businesspeople need to be open-minded about economic situations and learn how to pivot during challenging times. Start familiarizing yourself with concepts you’ll learn in college, including how micro and macro factors influence markets, plus how to leverage information and data to make informed financial decisions and maximize returns on investment.
  • Entrepreneurial thinking: Research shows exposure to entrepreneurial ecosystems in higher education positively influences students’ willingness to take risks and put effort into their work, leading more of them to pursue academic entrepreneurship. If you dream of building your own brand, a four-year degree is the first step to getting ahead and honing this skill.
  • Technology integration: Technology will always be at the heart of modern workplaces, with organizations currently making space for AI and other advancements in their operations. Business-minded students should know how to use certain apps to increase productivity, automate processes, and work more efficiently. This will give you an edge over other candidates to get into a Business program and find a good career later.
  • Sustainability mindfulness: Students who learn how to lower greenhouse emissions and counter the impact of climate change on a small and large scale will become better stewards of the planet. Today's Business curricula incorporates sustainability learning and how people in business careers can change the world by making environmentally friendly choices.

Related: 8 Ways to Get Business Experience in High School for College Admission

So, is a Business degree worth it? Absolutely! Whether you decide to build your own company or find employment through a great organization, it can open doors to landing your dream job and having a successful life. Consider the long-term benefits of business when deciding on your college major, and start building your skills now to get ahead in this far-reaching field.

Ready to embark on your journey into the world of business? Find a great place for your academic entrepreneurship by exploring our featured business colleges.

Like what you’re reading?

Join the CollegeXpress community! Create a free account and we’ll notify you about new articles, scholarship deadlines, and more.

Join Now

About Beth Rush

Beth Rush is a Florida-based writer, editor, and content manager at Body+Mind. Her primary beats include fitness, nutrition, mental health, parenting, and wherever any of these subjects intersect. You can read more of her work on her personal website.

 

Join our community of
over 5 million students!

CollegeXpress has everything you need to simplify your college search, get connected to schools, and find your perfect fit.

Join CollegeXpress

College Quick Connect

Swipe right to request information.
Swipe left if you're not interested.

Miami University

Oxford, OH


Ruth Aguilar

Ruth Aguilar

High School Class of 2021

CollegeXpress helped me by providing me with many scholarship opportunities and information about universities I want to attend. What I love about CollgeXpress is how it provides a variety of information, and as the first child attending a university next year, it has been very essential and helpful. I’m so grateful for this because the information provided by CollegeXpress has also helped me see that there are so many college opportunities, and it always informs me by email. In other words, CollegeXpress has been like a guide for me as a future college student.

Rana Slosberg

Rana Slosberg

Slosberg College Solutions LLC

My favorite part of CollegeXpress is the 800+ lists which have all kinds of hard-to-find information. These lists are helpful when I’m creating college lists, and I also use them to give students a feel for a particular college or university.

Hannah Nelsen

Hannah Nelsen

High School Class of 2022

CollegeXpress has helped me look at colleges that fit my interests by taking my profile and matching it to colleges that have the programs I'm looking for. It has the ability to connect me to colleges so I can be contacted by them and look at them more in-depth to find what's right for me. Additionally, the scholarship database is super beneficial for getting scholarships for college. Not only does it help lift the financial burden of college but it shows all the opportunities available. Overall, CollegeXpress has been very helpful to me.

Kelly Nogueiro

Kelly Nogueiro

Counselor

For me, CollegeXpress has given me a valuable tool to use with my students to explore colleges easily beyond objective data. It helps me find colleges for students that fit their needs and wants that aren’t quite so black and white. It's a wealth of knowledge, and the Type-A side of me loves all the lists and the fact that I know they're coming from folks who know what they're talking about. I share it with colleagues and students alike, and it's always well received.

Monica

Monica

High School Class of 2023

Being a sophomore in high school, I never really worried about college. I thought it wasn't important to worry about until senior year. Through this program opportunity I came across, I realized how important it is to start looking at colleges early and start planning ahead. CollegeXpress has opened my eyes to what colleges require, what colleges are near me, and what they offer. The daily emails I get from CollegeXpress really help me look at the different options I have and what colleges I fit into. Without this website, I would not be taking the time out of my day to worry about what my future will be nor what opportunities I have. I could not be more grateful for such an amazing and useful website. It's thanks to CollegeXpress that not only me but my family now know how much potential I have in to getting into these colleges/universities that we thought were out of my reach.