Is a research university right for me?–

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students. Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines. Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel. Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well. Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Is an online college right for me?–

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available. Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online. Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college. Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands. Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain. Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving. If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc. The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors. Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions. If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2025

Q: Is a liberal arts college right for me?–

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree. Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students. Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom). Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers. Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Badge for BEST FOR BUSINESS LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGES

By Dr. James Barham
Reviewed By Jenn Finley

Updated: Nov 8, 2024

Key Takeaways

A private liberal arts institution is for someone who wants a premium study with a broad range of subjects.
Many companies are often excited to hire graduates from national liberal arts colleges rather than business schools due to the comprehensive education offered by liberal arts universities.
The best liberal arts colleges for business degrees often allow students to customize their business degrees by allowing them to design specialized curricula inside established scientific and humanistic programs.

Table of Contents

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Business Programs in 2025

United States Military Academy
+1
San Francisco State University
+1
San Jose State University
+12
Union College
+5
University of Richmond
California State University, Long Beach
–2
Denison University
Claremont McKenna College
–7
Fairleigh Dickinson University
+10
University of Portland
+10

2025 Ranking Update

Our Influence Ranking Engine™ leverages machine learning to track the real-world influence of colleges and universities over time. Below you’ll see which schools gained or lost ground for the 2025 school year.

The US Military Academy and San Francisco State University both gained 1 position to move up to the number 1 and number 2 spots in our 2025 ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for business degrees.

The big mover in our ranking was San Jose State University jumped 12 spots to move up to the number 3 position. The Lucas College and Graduate School of Business now offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. This program emphasizes essential skills such as communication, critical thinking, leadership, and problem-solving, preparing graduates for diverse careers in finance, consulting, marketing, and management.

Fairleigh Dickinson also jumped an impressive 10 positions. The Silberman College of Business at FDU now also offers an online Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, providing flexibility for students balancing various commitments.

The University of Portland jumped 10 spots also. The Pamplin School of Business offers a new Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analytics, equipping students with skills to leverage advanced analytical techniques, machine learning, and artificial intelligence for data-driven decision-making.

How do we determine the best business liberal arts colleges?

Methodology

The people affiliated with a school are ultimately what make it great. This is why we rank the best colleges and universities based on what we call “Influence”.

The influence of a college or university is based on the schools’s top academic influencers related to the discipline in this ranking. We track the influence of faculty and alumni affiliate with these school counting not only the publications and citations of the school’s affiliated people, but we also consider the overall web presence of the faculty and alumni. The greater the citations, authority of web links, web searches, and page views, the greater the individuals’s influence. Those combined make up the departments’s influence in the field of study. We believe tracking the academic influence of the people affiliated with a school is the best indicator of academic excellence.

If you are serious about finding the best colleges and universities, you should be asking where the most influential professors are teaching, and whether their graduates themselves are advancing the school’s reputation for academic excellence. Most ranking sites rely on an opaque combination of reputation surveys and misused performance metrics. Influence, as measured by our InfluenceRanking engine, provides a ranking that is more insulated from manipulation, and more reflective of real-world educational outcomes.

Featured Programs

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Business Degrees

Career Outlook for Students with Business Degree

Go to Degree Finder tool

Business/Commerce

Degree Level: Bachelor's

Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
Avg. Starting Salary*: $46,323
Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $55,073
* denotes ‘annually’

Career Salaries

Career	Job Growth	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	5.48%	$206,680
Sales Managers	5.87%	$135,160
Managers, All Other	5.75%	$133,560
Industrial Production Managers	2.87%	$116,970
Administrative Services Managers	6.23%	$106,470
Construction Managers	9.14%	$104,900
Facilities Managers	5.27%	$102,340
General and Operations Managers	5.80%	$101,280
Management Analysts	10.60%	$99,410
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	8.97%	$99,200

Top Industries

Industry	Avg. Salary
Chief Executives	$206,680
Sales Managers	$135,160
Managers, All Other	$133,560
Industrial Production Managers	$116,970
Administrative Services Managers	$106,470
Construction Managers	$104,900
Facilities Managers	$102,340
General and Operations Managers	$101,280
Management Analysts	$99,410
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers	$99,200

Data from The Bureau of Labor Statistics, The Department of Education College Scorecard, The Department of Education NCES, and The Council for Community and Economic Research.

Choose an Outstanding Liberal Arts College for Your Business Degree

More and more American college students are considering and shifting to a business major, such as international business, business administration, business management, and many more.

The main reason more students are taking undergraduate education in business is the opportunity to land entry-level positions in the business world immediately after graduation. However, today’s businesses are rapidly evolving, and employers are looking for business graduates with comprehensive and diverse educational backgrounds.

In the past, it was difficult for students interested in earning a business administration degree to find an undergraduate business program with a diverse mix of classes.

Today, liberal arts colleges are stepping up and offering potential business majors a degree that combines the best of a liberal arts education with a business focus.

This flexible combination helps business graduates land jobs because they are able to adapt and make valuable contributions in multiple areas of business because of the well-rounded education they have received.

A bachelor’s degree in business administration is an excellent starting point for a career in business management, finance, or entrepreneurship. As a business major, you’ll learn basic business theory as well as practical concepts related to sales, marketing, accounting and more. You’ll also have a chance to focus on specific aspects of business, including human resources, hospitality, real estate, entertainment and much more.

A liberal arts degree is versatile, allowing graduates to seek careers in a wide range of industries. Find out what else you can do with a liberal arts degree.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, the business degree is an extremely popular degree because of its versatility. As a business major, you’ll pursue your own concentration—whether your interest is in sales, promotions, international business, or any of the countless other options at your fingertips.

The best schools for business administration are those which are regionally accredited, offer a full array of business administration concentrations, give you the chance to work with the best and most influential professors and classmates.

How To Succeed as a Business Student in a Liberal Arts College

Study for Entrance Exams

Entry exams to liberal arts universities are taken very seriously. Make sure to get ready for the exams that the universities of your choosing accept by checking which exams they accept. You should study and retake the SAT or ACT if your first attempt doesn’t result in a score in the top 50%. Only submit your top grades.

Be Well-Rounded Yet Diverse

A public school and state university won’t seem to care as much about your global citizenship as liberal arts universities do, so you need to establish your versatility.

These liberal arts colleges are frequently small universities with close-knit communities, and they take great satisfaction in turning out graduates seeking to make a positive difference in the world. You must project the image of an ambitious person who enjoys contributing and works.

Keep the Goal In Mind

If you are a returning student, now is the time to implement the plan you made before going back to school.

Students come back for a variety of reasons. Maybe you wish to finish something you started, be a good role model for your kids, or get the training you need to advance in your company. Whatever your motivation, it must remain central to your thoughts during your time in school.

Since you’re in a liberal arts college, take a variety of courses that will develop your soft skills in addition to your technical skills. You can even enroll in dual degree programs. You must have transferable skills to have more competency in the job market.

Get Organized

To succeed you will need to remain on top of your projects and submit them on time, so the days of trying to recall everything from memory are long gone. You can pick a planner that works for your schedule or use free organizational tools. Note all impending tests, homework assignments, and other due dates.

Get Involved in the Community

Colleges of liberal arts seek a giving, selfless mentality. As a result, you should volunteer as much as possible during your junior and senior high school years. Look for volunteer opportunities with groups like the Humane Society, a Big Brother/Big Sister program, or a local tutoring service for less underserved young students.

Make Connections

The relationships you form with peers, professors, and business leaders will be one of the most valuable aspects of your degree. You will benefit from doing this now because you will have classmates with whom you may study, share notes, and seek assistance. However, your network will be most valuable when you graduate.

As you look for new chances, develop, and form your own teams, you will have peers who have evolve into colleagues and other people who will support you in your career.

Frequently Asked Questions About Business Bachelor’s Degrees

Earning a bachelor’s degree in Business administration can open numerous professionals doors. In fact, you can do practically anything with this degree. If you have an interest in project management, marketing, or small business administration, you’ll love majoring in business. Majoring in business is also a great option for students who are interested in learning about retail management, corporate citizenship, entrepreneurship, hospitality, real estate, and much more. In addition to opening numerous career pathways, majoring in business can help prepare you for pursuit of an advanced degree. Many business majors will go on to pursue a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

Today, top business influencers are driving innovation through their research on lean startup methods, social marketing, global entrepreneurship, and more.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, business administration is the single most popular major because of its versatility, as well as the potential for excellent pay. Many of the skills you’ll develop as a business major will be applicable in other areas of life and career. Business majors typically incorporate the kinds of 21st Century skills like collaboration, communication, creative thinking and technological literacy. Even if you don’t plan to start your own business or lead a company, these skills will be valuable as you pursue your professional goals.

The business major also offers students among the best returns on investment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, This median annual wage for business and financial occupations was $69,820 in May 2019, which was significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations of $39,810.

Once you’ve declared your major in business administration, you will likely be required to complete a set of core courses in a number of business-related subject areas. While your concentration will give you a chance to choose from a wide range of highly-specialized business administration electives, there are a number of common courses that most business administration majors will be required to take, including:

Business Administration
Business Ethics
Accounting and Finance
Commercial Law
Franchising and Franchise Operations
International Finance
Organizational Behavior Studies
Construction Management
Marketing Research
Selling Skills and Sales Operations

The short answer to this question is, whatever you want. Whether you want to run a four-star hotel, start your own boutique shop on Main St., or crunch numbers for a Fortune 500 company, majoring in business is a good starting point. Your business major can lead to a wide range of career opportunities, including these top jobs:

Frequently Asked Questions About Research Universities, Liberal Arts Colleges, Online Colleges

In pursuing a bachelor’s degree, you will need to choose between three kinds of schools: research universities, liberal arts colleges, and online colleges.

Research universities are colleges and universities whose faculty are active in research and publishing. Research universities offer a wide array of doctoral programs, especially in the sciences. They tend to be big, with tens of thousands of students.

Do you prefer a larger university setting, such as largest public university in your state? Research universities are typically big, offering degrees in many different disciplines.

Is a big high-powered research environment the thing for you? If not, you should think about a liberal arts college. In deciding on an undergraduate institution, ask yourself what sort of environment will best help you to be happy and excel.

Consider whether you are self motivated enough to be a face in the crowd for some classes and largely unknown on campus at a large university. Of course you can find clubs and friends at a large university, but often liberal arts colleges have a more personal quality to them. If you want the community feel, a research university may not fit you well.
Are you interested in STEM fields? Research universities have that name for a reason – real research is happening there. This can create an exciting atmosphere for students interested in STEM. Attending a research university can give you a better chance of getting into better programs for graduate degrees, although a lot of that depends on your performance.

Learn more about research universities by reading about the best research universities in the US.

Often referred to as “teaching colleges” liberal arts colleges put a premium on undergraduate studies and offers a broad range of subjects for students to study. A college of liberal arts typically provides smaller class sizes, more direct engagement with professors, and, most importantly, the opportunity to sample a wide range of subject areas on the way to a bachelor’s degree.

Do you want your professors to know you? Liberal arts colleges strive to cultivate campus cultures that encourage tight bonds between professors and students.

Professors at these schools will typically conduct original research. Yet the best of these schools offer their faculty reduced teaching loads so that they can both be productive researchers and still have plenty of time for students (both in and outside the classroom).

Do you want to feel like you know everybody? One of the most enticing features of a liberal arts college is that in very little time, you can feel like you know who’s who, which can create strong friendships and make walks across campus more fun. While your sports teams may never be on ESPN, it’s more likely that you’ll know the athletes as your peers.

Beyond student and faculty relationships, it’s not unusual for the school president and other administrators to learn who you are. When faced with problems with your student account or the need to switch classes, this can be comforting during a stressful moment.

Learn more about liberal arts colleges by reading about the best liberal arts colleges in the US.

Online colleges are typically the same colleges and universities you could attend in-person, but for certain degree programs the college or unviersity has made the degree programs available to be completed online. For over 5 million students, online degree programs allow students to earn their degrees in the most flexible format available.

Online degrees are as respected as the on-campus degrees you could earn from the same schools. There’s usually no distinction between the two degrees, and your degree and transcript will not say that the degree was earned online.

Online degree programs are offered by a vast majority of colleges and universities, and the number of offering continues to grow. Whether you are searching for an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate, there’s a good chance you can earn your degree online from a respectable online college.

Are you a self-driven student? Perhaps the hardest aspect of obtaining an online degree is whether you will be disciplined enough to manage your time and course demands.

Many online students report that online college made them more disciplined in all areas of their lives, but the flexible, self-paced learning that makes online colleges attractive can often be the same qualities that make it difficult. If you tend to be a procrastinator, you need to be honest with yourself. You can change your habits and propensities, or you can throw money down the drain.

Do you need the flexibility of an online degree program? Most online students study online because of time demands of balancing work and life, or because the online college affords them the chance to attend a better school without moving.

If you are serious about earning your degree for career advancement, online colleges make it possible. The most flexible options among online degrees are those that are asynchronous, meaning you don’t have scheduled times to meet with your class online. However, many students seek synchronous online degree programs so that they have some structure – set meeting times, scheduled exams, etc.

The good news is that attending an online college doesn’t mean you will miss out on getting to know your professors and classmates. In fact, many online students who have experienced both online and on-campus courses report having easier access to their professors.

Since most communication with your professor is expected to be in text – via email or your class learning management system – it makes asking your questions easier. The same students also report that they got to better know the thoughts of their classmates. While in-person course conversations can be dominated by a few extroverts, online courses that require online discussions make it so that you see all of your classmates’ thoughts and questions.

If you’re interested in an online bachelor’s degree, check out what the best online colleges offer, or search our online degrees for the exact program that interests you. In either case, you will find well respected colleges and universities that offer online degrees.

If you think a research university may be a better fit for you, see our ranking of the best research universities for a bachelor’s in business.

Go to all Liberal Arts Colleges for Business programs

The Best Business Schools in Your State

Learn More About Business

If you want to know more about business, then check out our related content:

Learn how to major in business
Find out who are the most influential people in business today
Explore the the most influential business schools in the world

Do you have a question about this topic? Ask it here

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Earning Business Degrees in 2025

Key Takeaways

Top 10 Liberal Arts Colleges Business Programs in 2025

2025 Ranking Update

Featured Programs

Best Liberal Arts Colleges for Business Degrees

Last Year’s Ranking:

Most Influential Alumni

West Point Business Management Major Concentrations

Career Outlook for Business degree at San Francisco State University

Most Influential Alumni

SFSU Business Degrees Offered

Career Outlook for Business degree at San Jose State University

Most Influential Alumni

SJSU Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Union College, New York

Most Influential Alumni

Union College Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Richmond

Most Influential Alumni

University of Richmond Business Majors:

University of Richmond Business Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Business degree at California State University, Long Beach

Most Influential Alumni

CSU, Long Beach Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Denison University

Most Influential Alumni

Denison University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Claremont McKenna College

Most Influential Alumni

Claremont McKenna College Business Majors

Dual Degree Programs

Career Outlook for Business degree at Fairleigh Dickinson University

Most Influential Alumni

Fairleigh Dickinson Business Degrees:

Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Portland

Most Influential Alumni

University of Portland Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Suffolk University

Most Influential Alumni

Suffolk University Business Majors and Concentrations:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Rollins College

Most Influential Alumni

Rollins College Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Manhattan College

Most Influential Alumni

Manhattan College Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Ohio Wesleyan University

Most Influential Alumni

Ohio Wesleyan University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Pitzer College

Most Influential Alumni

Pitzer College Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Bradley University

Most Influential Alumni

Bradley University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Scripps College

Most Influential Alumni

Scripps College Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Saint Joseph's University

Most Influential Alumni

Saint Joseph’s University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at John Carroll University

Most Influential Alumni

John Carrol University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Trinity University

Most Influential Alumni

Trinity University Business Degrees:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Albion College

Most Influential Alumni

Albion College Business Major:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Niagara University

Most Influential Alumni

Niagra University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at Bentley University

Most Influential Alumni

Bentley University Business Majors:

Career Outlook for Business degree at High Point University

Most Influential Alumni

High Point University Business Majors: