Online Business Degrees

Earning a business degree can help graduates prepare to pursue professional opportunities. The business administration degree programs are designed to help students study industry-relevant professional skills and their practical applications in the real world.

At the associate degree level, students can prepare to pursue entry-level roles, such as an administrative assistant or support specialist, or help advance in a current position to an associate manager or general supervisor.*

Pursuing a bachelor's degree in business administration at AIU allows students to choose from 12 specializations and delve into the inner workings of a niche industry. Many specialized entry-level business roles, like accountants, financial analysts and human resources specialists, require a bachelor's degree in business.^**

An MBA program is designed for candidates who already have some experience in the field and want to elevate their skills and grow past entry-level positions. Graduating from an MBA degree program can help you elevate your current role to include managerial responsibilities or prepare to pursue new business opportunities in a variety of industries.

* American InterContinental University cannot guarantee employment or salary. The list of career paths related to this program is based on a subset from the Bureau of Labor Statistics CIP to SOC Crosswalk. Some career paths listed above may require further education or job experience.

** "Business and Financial Occupations: Occupational Outlook Handbook." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, January 30, 2023. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm. This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Data shows that employers value education in an employee. In addition to earning a higher salary per week on average and lower unemployment rates than those with only a high school diploma, people who hold a degree may signal preparedness and responsibility to potential employers.*

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics summarizes it like this: Each level of education you complete may help you develop more skills, give you access to higher-paying occupations, and signal that you're able to follow through on important tasks, such as planning ahead and meeting deadlines, that employers value.*

As for labor demands in the workforce, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employment in business and financial occupations is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations from 2023 to 2033.**

* “Learn More, Earn More: Education Leads to Higher Wages, Lower Unemployment.” Career Outlook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2025 https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2024/data-on-display/education-pays.htm. This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

** "Business and Financial Occupations: Occupational Outlook Handbook."" U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 3, 2025. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm. This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.

Degree requirements vary by degree level and specialization. To enroll in an associate or a bachelor’s in business administration program at AIU, you must have a high school diploma or GRE. No SAT or ACT scores are required for the associate and bachelor’s degrees, and no GRE or GMAT is required to enroll in the MBA degree program.

There is no application fee at AIU, and with 10 flexible start dates per year, there is no wait to start your education. The Program Overview and Courses sections outline the academic requirements to successfully complete a business degree program at AIU.

Degree programs in business administration and management are similar in that both explore the skills required in business environments in the real world. Some knowledge and content may overlap, so the difference lies in the focus of each of these programs.

A degree program in management focuses on developing knowledge of management fundamentals and business best practices. Although it encompasses various processes and models of business practices, the program is designed to help graduates prepare to pursue upper-management and leadership roles within a business organization. Management courses focus on managerial skills, interpersonal relationships in professional settings, and the facets of leadership.

A business administration degree program, on the other hand, is designed to provide a holistic view of business functions, which can allow students to explore and refine their business interests and help them prepare to pursue diverse entry-level roles, including human resources and marketing. This type of program features practical workforce skills that can be applied toward wide-ranging business solutions.

Deciding whether to pursue an associate degree or bachelor's degree depends on your academic and career plans in the near and long term. You can earn a degree faster and at a lower cost in an associate program than in a bachelor's program. Completing a business degree program in only two years (versus four years in a bachelor’s program) can help graduates get out into the business world and start building on-the-job experience.

A bachelor's degree program takes more time, but it can provide students with a robust business education that can help job candidates potentially qualify for more roles than an associate degree. AIU's online associate and bachelor's degree programs allow students to do both. You can start working on your career path sooner by completing a two-year associate program and then applying those credits to get a head start on your bachelor's degree in business.

* The business programs at American InterContinental University are Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accredited.

The best business degree program is different for everyone. The best business degree program for you should fit your lifestyle and provide rigorous academic coursework in your field. AIU's flexible online business programs are offered many specializations at the associate, bachelor’s and master's levels—all of which are programmatically accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).*

* The business programs at American InterContinental University are Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) accredited.