Enquire to study in the UK 
13 types of business degrees that can lead to high-paying jobs, up to US$144,688 in salary
Trending
04 Jan 2025
If you’ve ever considered pursuing a degree in business, you might have realised that there’s more to a business degree than just, well, business.
When most people think about a business degree, they think about the administration or management parts.
While those are the more popular ones, there are many other types of business degrees.
Every company needs someone to handle the numbers, and that’s where accountants and analysts come in. Then you’ll need someone to manage the employees, too, so you’ll have your human resources team for that. Of course, you’ve got other aspects of the business that all need to be taken care of, which calls for people with those specialisations.
But you might be wondering, with dropouts like Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Jobs making it bid, is it even necessary to get a degree in business — whatever the specialisation it is?
Elon Musk is among the few successful businessmen who received a dual degree in physics and economics (a type of business degree) to help with his entrepreneurial endeavours. Source: AFP
No business degree, no problem
Steve Wozniak, Henry Ford, and Oprah Winfrey are even more great examples of people who have become super successful without business degrees.
They built their empires, took the world by storm, and never had to take an “Introduction to the Business World” (or similar) course.
The thing is, Zuckerberg’s Facebook already had a good business model, and it was one of a kind in its market, which is why it did so well despite the scrutiny it has received over the years.
Netflix is another business that became successful despite its CEO, Reed Hastings, having no business degree, turning it into the US$342 billion dollar company it is today.
But does someone else’s success mean you don’t need a business degree of your own?
One Quora user says that any form of education is worth it. “Most people talk about how some of the most successful people didn’t attend school,” they write. “While this might be true, it does not mean that they stopped learning on their own. Most successful people read a lot. Success depends on the depth of your knowledge and your ability to use it to solve problems and make decisions in life.”
If you’ve decided that you’re interested in business but unsure which part of the business you want to play a part in, we cover the types of business degrees below to help you get started.
13 types of business degrees you can check out
1. Business law
This is one of the few types of business degrees that solely focus on law in the business world. Here, you’ll learn about the legal principles and regulations that govern business practices and how to apply this knowledge to solve real-world business problems.
Some topics covered in business law include contract law, company law, labour law, and international economics law.
The average annual salary of a business lawyer is US$144,688.
Universities that offer the degree:
2. Human resource
Managing human resources is vital when running a business. Human resource executives help organise employees, create a positive work environment, and help companies adapt to change. Hiring and training new talent is also a part of the job scope.
The average annual salary of a human resource executive is US$132,396.
Universities that offer the degree:
Supply chain management is one of the many types of business degrees — and possibly one of the most important ones that customers are familiar with too. Source: AFP
3. Supply chain management
This is one of the few types of business degrees that will teach you how to source materials, select vendors, plan and negotiate logistics, develop operations strategy, organise and optimise information, and understand how finance, people, information, products, and technology interact.
It’s a mouthful, but this degree is essential in any business. In short, you’ll learn how to manage the flow of goods and services through logistics, transportation, and demands from production facilities to their final destination in stores.
The average annual salary of a supply chain manager is US$110,385.
Universities that offer the degree:
4. Information systems
Technology is forever developing, and businesses must stay on trend to succeed. With an information systems degree, you can help companies use information technologies to understand operational objectives and optimise business processes.
Some of the courses you might pick up during this degree include information systems analysis, design, and security, managing digital services and innovation, and technological entrepreneurship.
The average annual salary of an information systems executive is US$104,852.
Universities that offer the degree:
There’s no limit to what you can do in marketing or advertising, like this drone show, which was seen as part of Marvel Studios: The Ultimate Deadpool & Wolverine Celebration of Life in 2024. Source: AFP
5. Marketing or advertising
To get your company or its products out to the public, marketing and advertising come in handy. With a degree in marketing or advertising, you’ll be able to master the arts of pricing strategies, consumer behaviour, and competitor research while putting your business needs first.
Whether this comes in the form of making fun little videos on social media to capture your audience’s attention or crunching in the numbers to figure out how much the company needs to invest to get a billboard in New York’s Times Square, this degree will do its best to prepare you for that.
The average annual salary of a business marketing executive is US$100,251.
Universities that offer the degree:
6. Data analytics or data science
Businesses often run on numbers, and there’s no one better than a data analyst to run the numbers and analyse them. A data analytics degree will teach you to use data analysis and statistical models to solve business problems.
The average annual salary of a business data analyst is US$99,864.
Universities that offer the degree:
7. Business psychology
It’s always important to understand workplace dynamics to enhance business performance, and having a business psychology degree will help you do just that. The degree combines advanced business practices with studying human behaviour to identify and improve the productivity and culture of workplaces.
With a degree in business psychology, you can become an industrial counsellor, human resource executive, or human factors specialist.
The average annual salary of a business psychologist is US$92,813.
Universities that offer the degree:
8. International business
A degree in international business will come in handy when a business decides to tackle the international market. With this degree, you’ll be able to understand how to run and manage a business across multiple cultures and communicate with its different audiences.
You can find yourself in careers such as business development manager, operations manager, business analyst, or international investment manager.
The average annual salary of an international business executive is US$87,037.
Universities that offer the degree:
Entrepreneurship can fall under many industries, such as e-commerce, fashion, IT, and education. Source: AFP
9. Entrepreneurship
If you’re looking to start a business and build it from the ground up, a degree in entrepreneurship is perfect for you. You’ll learn how to identify a problem within society, develop a solution, and build a business surrounding the solution.
However, even if you don’t want to open a business, this degree is still as valuable as other types of business degrees. You’ll have skills such as innovation and leadership that can be applied to corporate roles in sales, business consultancy, and human resources.
The average annual salary of an entrepreneur is US$81,729.
Universities that offer the degree:
Business management involves keeping the entire business steady, much like how a football coach has to manage the players both individually and as a team. Source: AFP
10. Business management
As its name implies, a degree in business management will teach you how to manage a business. Beyond that, you’ll learn how to oversee all aspects of a company, from finance and operations to marketing and human resources.
Here, you’ll also hone your leadership and communication skills to better lead the company.
The average annual salary of a business manager is US$77,274.
Universities that offer the degree:
11. Finance
Having a finance degree means you’ll be able to use financial theories to apply them in the business world and help companies build their business and manage financial resources.
Students in finance can be prepared to enter a career in risk management, funds management, banking, investment analysis, or financial analysis. However, be prepared to sit for many exams before you earn this particular degree.
The average annual salary of a finance officer is US$75,515.
Universities that offer the degree:
12. Business administration
Once you’ve graduated with a degree in business administration, you’ll be able to know how to strategically plan to create organisational value and master the financial principles of a business. You’ll basically learn the nuts and bolts of operating a business.
With a degree in business administration, you can become a project manager, business owner, or business manager.
The average annual salary of a business administration manager is US$69,117.
Universities that offer the degree:
PWC is one of the biggest companies that hire accountants to help businesses prepare financial reports, work with tax agents, and consolidate group accounts. Source: AFP
13. Accounting
A very crucial part of the business, an accounting degree will teach you how to record, analyse, classify, summarise, and report financial transactions to help businesses make strategic decisions and comply with the law to maintain their financial stability.
However, there’s a catch. To become an accountant officially, you must pass the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) Exam, one of the most challenging exams in the world.
This degree can lead to roles as an accounting manager, business consultant, or auditor.
The average annual salary of an accountant is US$68,326.
Universities that offer the degree:
