Business Administration, Management and Operations: earnings, debt, and careers
CIP 52.02. Official graduate outcomes from the U.S. Department of Education across 6,479 programs, and the careers this field is linked to.
Graduate earnings by credential level
| Credential | Programs | Graduates (recent year) | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Typical program median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate certificate | 1,079 | 54,848 | $44,510 | $47,440 | $14,812 123 programs |
| Associate's degree | 1,339 | 61,908 | $41,208 | $48,733 | $13,338 403 programs |
| Bachelor's degree | 1,725 | 159,702 | $55,206 | $68,257 | $24,537 1203 programs |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 85 | 0 | $84,197 | $104,114 | $20,000 7 programs |
| Master's degree | 1,373 | 111,473 | $86,260 | $103,485 | Data unavailable |
| Doctoral degree | 274 | 3,624 | $104,798 | $113,566 | Data unavailable |
| Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) | 34 | 223 | $172,723 | $214,836 | Data unavailable |
| Graduate certificate | 570 | 7,760 | $80,711 | $94,506 | Data unavailable |
National earnings are published by the Department of Education for each field and credential level Verified data. Typical program median debt is ConnectPrep's calculation: the median across programs of each program's median federal debt Calculated estimate. It covers federal loans only.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard, Most Recent Field of Study Data. Varies by measure; see measure definitions. Published October 15, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Undergraduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 82 graduates measured | $77,041 | $111,392 | $16,995 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus IN · Public · 196 graduates measured | $72,737 | $89,788 | $17,954 |
| University of Colorado Boulder CO · Public · 149 graduates measured | $72,639 | Data unavailable | $18,500 |
| Ohio State University-Main Campus OH · Public · 56 graduates measured | $69,535 | Data unavailable | $21,500 |
| Central New Mexico Community College NM · Public · 16 graduates measured | $68,730 | Data unavailable | $14,917 |
| Minnesota State University Moorhead MN · Public · 34 graduates measured | $68,691 | $59,179 | Data unavailable |
| Tidewater Community College VA · Public · 20 graduates measured | $65,828 | $37,855 | $14,125 |
| University of Minnesota-Twin Cities MN · Public · 70 graduates measured | $64,740 | $76,515 | Data unavailable |
| St Petersburg College FL · Public · 24 graduates measured | $61,435 | Data unavailable | $29,303 |
| Colorado State University Global CO · Public · 39 graduates measured | $60,912 | Data unavailable | $11,036 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 20 graduates measured | $60,633 | $63,677 | $10,292 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus CO · Public · 20 graduates measured | $60,596 | $82,891 | Data unavailable |
| Northern Virginia Community College VA · Public · 28 graduates measured | $60,570 | $56,907 | $11,000 |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · 54 graduates measured | $60,397 | Data unavailable | $26,000 |
| Seminole State College of Florida FL · Public · 37 graduates measured | $59,527 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Associate's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach FL · Private, nonprofit · 96 graduates measured | $81,005 | $85,869 | $12,500 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide FL · Private, nonprofit · 96 graduates measured | $81,005 | $85,869 | $12,500 |
| Cambridge College MA · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $72,937 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Coastline Community College CA · Public · 31 graduates measured | $63,053 | $66,566 | $9,081 |
| Excelsior University NY · Private, nonprofit · 65 graduates measured | $61,692 | $59,793 | $10,750 |
| McHenry County College IL · Public · 16 graduates measured | $61,482 | $58,796 | Data unavailable |
| Solano Community College CA · Public · 19 graduates measured | $60,673 | $55,103 | Data unavailable |
| Rio Salado College AZ · Public · 21 graduates measured | $60,382 | Data unavailable | $14,406 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology IN · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $58,187 | $49,848 | $29,500 |
| Indiana Institute of Technology-College of Professional Studies IN · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $58,187 | $49,848 | $29,500 |
| Columbia Southern University AL · Private, for-profit · 111 graduates measured | $58,078 | $61,433 | $20,799 |
| Purdue University Global IN · Public · 149 graduates measured | $57,740 | Data unavailable | $6,459 |
| American Public University System WV · Private, for-profit · 87 graduates measured | $56,322 | $65,318 | $10,046 |
| Greenville Technical College SC · Public · 31 graduates measured | $56,133 | $46,364 | $22,202 |
| Sacramento City College CA · Public · 18 graduates measured | $56,062 | $53,872 | $9,500 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Bachelor's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Maritime Academy ME · Public · 22 graduates measured | $114,356 | $123,155 | Data unavailable |
| Bismarck State College ND · Public · 57 graduates measured | $113,408 | $122,948 | $12,408 |
| University of Pennsylvania PA · Private, nonprofit · 53 graduates measured | $108,743 | $136,806 | $19,000 |
| Manhattan University NY · Private, nonprofit · 31 graduates measured | $97,889 | Data unavailable | $17,250 |
| Carnegie Mellon University PA · Private, nonprofit · 120 graduates measured | $97,419 | $160,783 | $19,000 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MI · Public · 494 graduates measured | $96,806 | $144,654 | $19,500 |
| University of California-Berkeley CA · Public · 195 graduates measured | $94,811 | $144,599 | $10,656 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public · 186 graduates measured | $88,182 | $135,874 | $9,500 |
| Emory University GA · Private, nonprofit · 252 graduates measured | $87,830 | $136,731 | $17,500 |
| Villanova University PA · Private, nonprofit · 26 graduates measured | $87,616 | $114,211 | $27,000 |
| William & Mary VA · Public · 110 graduates measured | $84,722 | $111,366 | $15,000 |
| Washington and Lee University VA · Private, nonprofit · 49 graduates measured | $83,963 | $121,699 | $21,500 |
| Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus GA · Public · 17 graduates measured | $82,156 | $106,155 | $20,000 |
| City University of Seattle WA · Private, nonprofit · 57 graduates measured | $81,614 | $99,735 | $16,834 |
| Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology OK · Public · 21 graduates measured | $81,586 | Data unavailable | $18,515 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Post-baccalaureate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus PA · Public · 80 graduates measured | $129,844 | $140,589 | $21,105 |
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · 34 graduates measured | $97,943 | $159,290 | Data unavailable |
| CUNY Graduate School and University Center NY · Public · 42 graduates measured | $86,901 | Data unavailable | $20,000 |
| University of Georgia GA · Public · 54 graduates measured | $51,676 | Data unavailable | $22,051 |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Master's degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University IL · Private, nonprofit · 169 graduates measured | $267,548 | $244,399 | Data unavailable |
| New York University NY · Private, nonprofit · 141 graduates measured | $221,814 | $232,460 | Data unavailable |
| Dartmouth College NH · Private, nonprofit · 130 graduates measured | $211,114 | $239,178 | Data unavailable |
| University of Chicago IL · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $207,003 | $243,256 | Data unavailable |
| University of London - London Business School · Foreign · 37 graduates measured | $205,144 | $246,761 | Data unavailable |
| University of Pennsylvania PA · Private, nonprofit · 278 graduates measured | $202,471 | $272,321 | Data unavailable |
| Yale University CT · Private, nonprofit · 325 graduates measured | $198,968 | $234,034 | Data unavailable |
| University of Virginia-Main Campus VA · Public · 298 graduates measured | $198,087 | $224,229 | Data unavailable |
| Cornell University NY · Private, nonprofit · 431 graduates measured | $196,713 | $226,632 | Data unavailable |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill NC · Public · 111 graduates measured | $186,447 | $203,447 | Data unavailable |
| Duke University NC · Private, nonprofit · 584 graduates measured | $180,247 | $222,160 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Seattle Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Bothell Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| University of Washington-Tacoma Campus WA · Public · 392 graduates measured | $171,110 | $194,296 | Data unavailable |
| The University of Texas at Austin TX · Public · 501 graduates measured | $171,077 | $197,707 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Doctoral degree programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temple University PA · Public · 20 graduates measured | $214,825 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Creighton University NE · Private, nonprofit · 18 graduates measured | $151,229 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Florida International University FL · Public · 17 graduates measured | $145,098 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of South Florida FL · Public · 20 graduates measured | $136,024 | $200,931 | Data unavailable |
| Columbia Southern University AL · Private, for-profit · 22 graduates measured | $134,402 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| St. John Fisher University NY · Private, nonprofit · 40 graduates measured | $132,278 | $128,060 | Data unavailable |
| Grand Canyon University AZ · Private, for-profit · 32 graduates measured | $126,722 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Vanderbilt University TN · Private, nonprofit · 188 graduates measured | $124,602 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The Chicago School at Chicago IL · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $123,374 | $113,634 | Data unavailable |
| The Chicago School at Anaheim CA · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $123,374 | $113,634 | Data unavailable |
| The Chicago School at Los Angeles CA · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $123,374 | $113,634 | Data unavailable |
| The Chicago School at Washington DC DC · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $123,374 | $113,634 | Data unavailable |
| The Chicago School at Dallas · Private, nonprofit · 44 graduates measured | $123,374 | $113,634 | Data unavailable |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte NC · Public · 19 graduates measured | $113,816 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The University of Arizona Global Campus AZ · Private, for-profit · 21 graduates measured | $112,020 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Professional degree (JD, MD, and similar) programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard University MA · Private, nonprofit · 429 graduates measured | $219,183 | $272,009 | Data unavailable |
| University of Florida FL · Public · 19 graduates measured | $193,468 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Notre Dame IN · Private, nonprofit · 254 graduates measured | $130,339 | $166,604 | Data unavailable |
| University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus PA · Public · 140 graduates measured | $119,291 | $138,548 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Graduate certificate programs with the highest early earnings
| School | Median earnings, 1 yr | Median earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina State University at Raleigh NC · Public · 21 graduates measured | $130,140 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Iowa IA · Public · 176 graduates measured | $122,311 | $132,152 | Data unavailable |
| University of St Thomas MN · Private, nonprofit · 62 graduates measured | $116,216 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| The University of Tampa FL · Private, nonprofit · 25 graduates measured | $109,280 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Weber State University UT · Public · 19 graduates measured | $109,166 | $123,175 | Data unavailable |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell MA · Public · 27 graduates measured | $106,040 | $128,785 | Data unavailable |
| Empire State University NY · Public · 19 graduates measured | $99,737 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| University of Southern California CA · Private, nonprofit · 95 graduates measured | $97,538 | $123,330 | Data unavailable |
| Colorado State University Global CO · Public · 27 graduates measured | $95,673 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Champlain College VT · Private, nonprofit · 84 graduates measured | $94,431 | $115,119 | Data unavailable |
| George Washington University DC · Private, nonprofit · 37 graduates measured | $93,410 | $124,760 | Data unavailable |
| Robert Morris University PA · Private, nonprofit · 64 graduates measured | $84,587 | Data unavailable | Data unavailable |
| Ferris State University MI · Public · 22 graduates measured | $80,631 | $91,584 | Data unavailable |
| Southern New Hampshire University NH · Private, nonprofit · 83 graduates measured | $79,492 | $71,030 | Data unavailable |
| East Carolina University NC · Public · 17 graduates measured | $79,221 | $104,657 | Data unavailable |
Ranked by published median earnings one year after completion. Programs with suppressed earnings do not appear, so this is not a ranking of program quality.
Careers linked to Business Administration, Management and Operations
| Occupation | Median wage, all workers | Change 2025 to 2035 | Typical entry education |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief executives | $213,990 | +3.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| General and operations managers | $105,770 | +5.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Sales managers | $148,270 | +4.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Fundraising managers | $125,470 | +5.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Administrative services managers | $114,130 | +5.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Facilities managers | $106,660 | +4.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer and information systems managers | $175,140 | +15.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial managers | $166,570 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Industrial production managers | $126,060 | +2.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Purchasing managers | $148,080 | +4.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Transportation, storage, and distribution managers | $107,230 | +6.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Compensation and benefits managers | $149,230 | +1.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Human resources managers | $149,280 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Training and development managers | $133,000 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Construction managers | $114,990 | +9.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Education administrators, postsecondary | $104,590 | +1.8% | Master's degree |
| Education administrators, all other | $95,200 | +1.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Architectural and engineering managers | $171,270 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling | $79,520 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical and health services managers | $123,860 | +24.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural sciences managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Social and community service managers | $80,390 | +7.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Personal service managers, all other | $69,770 | +6.2% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Managers, all other | $141,900 | +4.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes | $82,890 | +9.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Cost estimators | $78,740 | -3.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Human resources specialists | $75,940 | +6.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Logisticians | $82,320 | +17.6% | Bachelor's degree |
| Project management specialists | $102,320 | +6.7% | Bachelor's degree |
| Management analysts | $101,860 | +10.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Fundraisers | $72,550 | +5.5% | Bachelor's degree |
| Compensation, benefits, and job analysis specialists | $78,210 | +6.0% | Bachelor's degree |
| Business operations specialists, all other | $83,050 | +3.9% | Bachelor's degree |
| Insurance underwriters | $81,370 | -3.8% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial risk specialists | $117,330 | +7.4% | Bachelor's degree |
| Financial specialists, all other | $81,100 | +4.1% | Bachelor's degree |
| Actuaries | $130,000 | +9.2% | Bachelor's degree |
| Business teachers, postsecondary | $99,080 | +5.9% | Doctoral or professional degree |
| First-line supervisors of retail sales workers | $48,520 | -3.7% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers | $69,500 | +0.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers | $79,860 | +4.1% | High school diploma or equivalent |
| First-line supervisors of production and operating workers | $74,450 | +1.8% | High school diploma or equivalent |
Occupations mapped to this field in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. Occupation wages describe all workers, not recent graduates.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Detailed CIP codes in this field (17)
- 52.0201 Business Administration and Management, General
- 52.0202 Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management
- 52.0203 Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
- 52.0204 Office Management and Supervision
- 52.0205 Operations Management and Supervision
- 52.0206 Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management
- 52.0207 Customer Service Management
- 52.0208 E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce
- 52.0209 Transportation/Mobility Management
- 52.0210 Research and Development Management
- 52.0211 Project Management
- 52.0212 Retail Management
- 52.0213 Organizational Leadership
- 52.0214 Research Administration
- 52.0215 Risk Management
- 52.0216 Science/Technology Management
- 52.0299 Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other