Best Research Universities for Business Degrees 2026
The best business research universities are those with rich histories of influence, proven through the work produced by the program’s faculty and alumni. Beyond demonstrating scholarly impact in the field, the best business degree programs maximize your opportunities to interact with outstanding business faculty.
Key Takeaways
- Leading business programs have robust connections with global companies and offer students opportunities for internships, consulting projects, and networking with industry leaders. Schools like Stanford and Wharton provide students direct access to top executives and innovators in Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and beyond.
- Many of the top research universities offer specialized centers for entrepreneurship, leadership, and sustainable business practices, giving students access to world-class faculty research, real-world problem-solving projects, and opportunities to develop new business ventures.
- Top business schools emphasize cutting-edge research in data analytics, financial modeling, and business intelligence, equipping students with the quantitative skills needed for today’s data-driven business environment.
Top 10 Research Universities Business Programs in 2026
Featured Programs
Best Research Universities for Business Degrees
- #2 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #2 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #2 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #3 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
Tuition + fees
$66K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
37K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Columbia University
Cost of Degree: $68,171Expenses: $20,542Starting Salary: $108,185Salary after 4 years: $135,737Cost Recoup Time: 12 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Columbia University known for?
Columbia University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Columbia University Business Major Concentration:
- Business Management
- #5 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #7 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #7 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #8 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
4%
Graduation
95%
Student body
13K
Median SAT/ACT
1555/35
Career Outlook for Business degree at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $60,156Expenses: $22,574Starting Salary: $143,748Salary after 4 years: $180,357Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Massachusetts Institute of Technology known for?
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Economics
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Earth Sciences
- Business
- Biology
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
MIT Business Major Concentrations:
- Management
- Business Analytics
- Finance
- #2 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #2 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #2 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #4 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online
Tuition + fees
$18K
Acceptance
18%
Graduation
93%
Student body
52K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Michigan
Cost of Degree: $18,309Expenses: $17,554Starting Salary: $74,437Salary after 4 years: $88,498Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Michigan known for?
University of Michigan’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Engineering
- Anthropology
- Computer Science
- Medical
- Education
- Mathematics
- History
- Social Work
Most Influential Alumni
University of Michigan Business Major Specializations:
- Sales track
- Women in Finance
- #8 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #8 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026 #10 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
87%
Student body
65K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at New York University
Cost of Degree: $60,438Expenses: $27,314Starting Salary: $73,559Salary after 4 years: $92,292Cost Recoup Time: 16 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is New York University known for?
New York University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
New York University Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting concentration
- Actuarial Science concentration
- Business and Political Economy
- Business Economics concentration
- Business Technology Management
- Business, Technology, and Entrepreneurship
- Computing and Data Science concentration
- Economics
- Economic Theory concentration
- Entertainment, Media, and Technology specialization
- Entrepreneurship concentration
- Finance concentration
- Global Business concentration
- Hotel and Tourism Management
- Management and Organizations concentration
- Marketing concentration
- Music Business
- Operations concentration
- Real Estate
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Sports Management
- Statistics concentration
- Sustainable Business concentration
- #1 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #6 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #9 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #9 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
95%
Student body
26K
Median SAT/ACT
1520/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Cornell University
Cost of Degree: $66,014Expenses: $22,126Starting Salary: $94,709Salary after 4 years: $118,829Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Cornell University known for?
Cornell University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Cornell University Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Agribusiness Management
- Applied Economics and Management
- Business Analytics
- Entrepreneurship
- Environmental, Energy, and Resource Economics
- Finance
- Food Industry Management
- International Trade and Development
- Marketing
- Strategy
- #5 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #10 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #10 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #10 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
96%
Student body
33K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Pennsylvania
Cost of Degree: $66,104Expenses: $22,924Starting Salary: $123,159Salary after 4 years: $154,524Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Pennsylvania known for?
University of Pennsylvania’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Pennsylvania Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Behavioral Economics
- Business Analytics
- Business Economics and Public Policy
- Business, Energy, Environment, and Sustainability
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation
- Finance
- Health Care Management and Policy
- Legal Studies and Business Ethics
- Management
- Marketing
- Marketing and Communication
- Marketing and Operations Management
- Operations, Information and Decisions
- Real Estate
- Retailing
- Social Impact and Responsibility
- Statistics
- Individualized
- #3 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #3 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #3 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #7 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges
Tuition + fees
$13K
Acceptance
9%
Graduation
92%
Student body
49K
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of California, Los Angeles
Cost of Degree: $13,747Expenses: $24,284Starting Salary: $68,972Salary after 4 years: $82,001Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of California, Los Angeles known for?
University of California, Los Angeles’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Nursing
- Earth Sciences
- Social Work
- History
- Chemistry
- Sociology
- Anthropology
- Philosophy
- Mathematics
- Communications
Most Influential Alumni
UCLA Business Majors:
- BA in Business Economics
- #1 50 Best Small Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #8 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #12 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #12 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
3%
Graduation
94%
Student body
3K
Career Outlook for Business degree at California Institute of Technology
Cost of Degree: $63,255Expenses: $23,631Starting Salary: $99,482Salary after 4 years: $124,817Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is California Institute of Technology known for?
California Institute of Technology’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Caltech Business Majors:
- BS in Economics
- BS in Business, Economics, and Management
- #4 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #4 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #4 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #18 Best Universities in the US Ranked for Prospective Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
31%
Graduation
88%
Student body
55K
Median SAT/ACT
1365/29
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Texas at Austin
Cost of Degree: $11,678Expenses: $19,894Starting Salary: $69,632Salary after 4 years: $82,785Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Texas at Austin known for?
University of Texas at Austin’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Communications
- Physics
- Law
- Literature
- History
- Earth Sciences
- Social Work
- Computer Science
- Philosophy
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
University of Texas at Austin Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Honors Program
- Finance
- International Business
- Management
- Management Information Systems
- Marketing
- Science and Technology Management
- Supply Chain Management
- #14 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #15 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #15 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #16 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026
Tuition + fees
$63K
Acceptance
7%
Graduation
97%
Student body
27K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Northwestern University
Cost of Degree: $65,997Expenses: $25,293Starting Salary: $87,409Salary after 4 years: $109,670Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Northwestern University known for?
Northwestern University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Business
- Sociology
- Law
- Economics
- Anthropology
- Communications
- Chemistry
- Philosophy
- Education
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
Northwester University Business Majors:
- Economics
- Entrepreneurship
- Leadership
- Statistics
- #1 15 Best Self-Paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #5 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #5 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025 #5 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
48%
Graduation
84%
Student body
58K
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Washington
Cost of Degree: $12,643Expenses: $21,909Starting Salary: $65,580Salary after 4 years: $77,968Cost Recoup Time: 9 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Washington known for?
University of Washington’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Computer Science
- Social Work
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Medical
- Criminal Justice
- Physics
- Psychology
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
University of Washington Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Management
- Information Systems
- Marketing
- Operations & Supply Chain Management
- #10 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #15 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #16 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #16 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
92%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1530/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Carnegie Mellon University
Cost of Degree: $63,274Expenses: $19,868Starting Salary: $96,394Salary after 4 years: $120,942Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Carnegie Mellon University known for?
Carnegie Mellon University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Computer Science
- Engineering
- Economics
- Business
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Psychology
- Physics
- Education
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
Carnegie Mellon University Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Business Analytics and Technologies
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Global Economics and Business
- Marketing Management
- Operations Management
- Strategic Management
- #10 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #16 50 Best Research Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2024 #17 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #17 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025
Tuition + fees
$65K
Acceptance
5%
Graduation
95%
Student body
11K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/35
Career Outlook for Business degree at Brown University
Cost of Degree: $68,230Expenses: $19,418Starting Salary: $83,385Salary after 4 years: $104,621Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Brown University known for?
Brown University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Literature
- Mathematics
- History
- Education
- Computer Science
- Economics
- Communications
- Political Science
- Philosophy
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
Brown University Business Major Concentrations:
- Business Economics
- Entrepreneurship & Technology Management
- Organizational Studies
- #7 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #8 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #8 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #8 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$21K
Acceptance
19%
Graduation
95%
Student body
29K
Median SAT/ACT
1470/33
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Virginia
Cost of Degree: $22,323Expenses: $18,940Starting Salary: $74,814Salary after 4 years: $88,947Cost Recoup Time: 10 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Virginia known for?
University of Virginia’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Virginia Business Major:
- BS in Commerce
- #19 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #20 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #23 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026 #1 Best Grad Schools in Missouri 2025
Tuition + fees
$61K
Acceptance
12%
Graduation
94%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1535/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Washington University in St. Louis
Cost of Degree: $62,982Expenses: $25,506Starting Salary: $82,262Salary after 4 years: $103,212Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Washington University in St. Louis known for?
Washington University in St. Louis’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Washington University of Saint Louis Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Economics and Strategy
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Healthcare Management
- Organization and Strategic Management
- Marketing
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
Washington University in St. Louis’s Online Degrees
BS in Integrated Studies
Degree Concentrations
- Humanities
- Social Science
- Required Credits: 120
- Completion Time: None Reported
- Format: Online
- #9 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #9 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #13 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #13 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$9K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
34K
Median SAT/ACT
1440/32
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Cost of Degree: $8,989Expenses: $17,120Starting Salary: $64,826Salary after 4 years: $77,072Cost Recoup Time: 8 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill known for?
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of North Carolina Business Major Concentrations:
- Consulting
- Entrepreneurship
- Investment Banking
- Investment Management
- Marketing Management & Sales
- Multinational Finance
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
- #3 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #21 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #22 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #25 50 Best Colleges and Universities Ranked for Undergrads in 2026
Tuition + fees
$60K
Acceptance
13%
Graduation
96%
Student body
14K
Median SAT/ACT
1500/33
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Notre Dame
Cost of Degree: $62,693Expenses: $20,578Starting Salary: $92,089Salary after 4 years: $115,541Cost Recoup Time: 13 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Notre Dame known for?
University of Notre Dame’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Philosophy
- Law
- History
- Business
- Political Science
- Education
- Mathematics
- Communications
- Engineering
Most Influential Alumni
University of Notre Dame Business Major Concentrations:
- Accountancy
- Business Analytics
- Marketing
- Finance
- Management Consulting
- #23 50 Best Private Grad Schools 2025 #2 Best Research Universities in DC 2026 #2 Best Grad Schools in DC 2025 #2 Best Private Colleges in DC 2024
Tuition + fees
$62K
Acceptance
49%
Graduation
85%
Student body
30K
Median SAT/ACT
1410/32
Career Outlook for Business degree at George Washington University
Cost of Degree: $64,798Expenses: $19,325Starting Salary: $77,115Salary after 4 years: $96,754Cost Recoup Time: 15 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is George Washington University known for?
George Washington University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Political Science
- Criminal Justice
- Law
- Communications
- Business
- Anthropology
- Physics
- Medical
- Education
- Earth Sciences
Most Influential Alumni
George Washington Univesity Business Major:
- BS in Accountancy
- BS in Business
- BS in Business Analytics
- BS in Finance
- BS in Information Systems
- BS in Marketing
- BS/MA 5 years
- The 4+1 Program
- #10 Top Schools that Offer Free Master's Degrees Online #10 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #15 50 Best Public Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #15 50 Best Public Grad Schools 2025
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
53%
Graduation
88%
Student body
67K
Median SAT/ACT
1395/30
Career Outlook for Business degree at Ohio State University
Cost of Degree: $12,859Expenses: $18,372Starting Salary: $50,504Salary after 4 years: $60,045Cost Recoup Time: 11 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Ohio State University known for?
Ohio State University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Earth Sciences
- Psychology
- Engineering
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Communications
- History
- Chemistry
- Education
- Business
Most Influential Alumni
Ohio State Univesity Business Major:
BS in Business Administration Specializations:
- Accounting
- Business Management
- Aviation Management
- Economics
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Information Systems
- Insurance
- International Business
- Logistics Management
- Marketing
- Operations Management
- Real Estate
- Special Area
- #1 Most Affordable Graduate Schools Ranked for 2026 #2 Top 15 Best Online Colleges for Transfer Students in 2025 #2 Online Colleges with the Most Generous Financial Aid in 2025 #3 15 Best Self-Paced Online Colleges Ranked for 2025
Tuition + fees
$6K
Acceptance
23%
Graduation
90%
Student body
63K
Median SAT/ACT
1395/30
Career Outlook for Business degree at University of Florida
Cost of Degree: $6,381Expenses: $16,220Starting Salary: $61,906Salary after 4 years: $73,599Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is University of Florida known for?
University of Florida’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
University of Florida Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Finance
- General Studies
- Information Systems
- Management
- Marketing
- #4 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #25 50 Best Private Colleges and Universities for Undergrads 2025 #1 Best Colleges in Georgia 2026 #1 Best Private Colleges in Georgia 2026
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
11%
Graduation
90%
Student body
16K
Median SAT/ACT
1490/33
Career Outlook for Business degree at Emory University
Cost of Degree: $60,774Expenses: $22,848Starting Salary: $78,987Salary after 4 years: $99,102Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Emory University known for?
Emory University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Emory University Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Finance
- Information Systems and Operations Management
- Marketing
- Strategy and Management Consulting
- #2 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #5 Top 20 Best Military Friendly Online Colleges Ranked for 2025 #8 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #1 Best Christian Colleges in New York 2026
Tuition + fees
$58K
Acceptance
54%
Graduation
83%
Student body
19K
Median SAT/ACT
1400/31
Career Outlook for Business degree at Fordham University
Cost of Degree: $61,567Expenses: $27,583Starting Salary: $62,703Salary after 4 years: $78,671Cost Recoup Time: 17 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Fordham University known for?
Fordham University’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
- Religious Studies
- Law
- Philosophy
- Business
- Social Work
- Literature
- History
- Communications
- Education
- Political Science
Most Influential Alumni
Fordham University Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Business Economics
- Consulting
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Information Systems
- Management
- Marketing
- Social Innovation
- Digital Media and Technology
- Global Finance and Business Economics
- Global Marketing with Consumer Insights
- #3 Best Online Christian Colleges and Universities for Doctoral Degrees 2025 #5 50 Best Christian Colleges and Universities 2024 #9 15 Colleges with the Happiest Freshmen #1 Best Christian Colleges in Massachusetts 2024
Tuition + fees
$64K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
91%
Student body
17K
Median SAT/ACT
1487/34
Career Outlook for Business degree at Boston College
Cost of Degree: $67,680Expenses: $21,925Starting Salary: $86,567Salary after 4 years: $108,613Cost Recoup Time: 14 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Boston College known for?
Boston College’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Boston College Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Actuarial Science
- Finance, Investment, and Banking
- Information Systems
- International Business
- Management and Human Resources
- Marketing
- Operations and Technology Management
- Real Estate
- Risk Management and Insurance
- Supply Chain Management
- #13 America's 15 Most Technologically Advanced Colleges #15 Best Value Colleges and Universities Ranked for Students in 2025 #1 Most Affordable Colleges in Georgia Ranked for Students in 2024 #2 Best Public Colleges in Georgia 2026
Tuition + fees
$12K
Acceptance
17%
Graduation
93%
Student body
52K
Median SAT/ACT
1460/33
Career Outlook for Business degree at Georgia Tech
Cost of Degree: $11,764Expenses: $16,760Starting Salary: $80,939Salary after 4 years: $96,228Cost Recoup Time: 7 yearsPaid back at 15% of annual salaryWhat is Georgia Tech known for?
Georgia Tech’s faculty and alumni have been influential in:
Most Influential Alumni
Georgia Tech Business Major Concentrations:
- Accounting
- Finance
- General Management
- Information Technology Management
- Leadership and Organizational Change
- Marketing
- Operations and Supply Chain Management
- Strategy and Innovation
Career Outlook for Students with Business Degree
Go to Degree Finder toolBusiness/Commerce
Degree Level: Bachelor's
- Location: The U.S. (Private Schools)
- Avg. Cost of Degree*: $10,704
- Avg. Expenses*: $17,337
- Avg. Starting Salary*: $46,323
- Avg. Salary after 4 Years*: $55,073
- Avg. Cost Recoup Time**: 10 years
- Job Growth: 6.46%
- Number of Jobs: 9,759,299
- * denotes ‘annually’
- ** denotes ‘at 15% of annual salary’
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 |
Top Industries
| Industry | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $206,680 |
| Sales Managers | $135,160 |
| Managers, All Other | $133,560 |
A research-focused university amplifies a business education through rigorous faculty scholarship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and infrastructure—such as research centers, labs, and corporate partnerships—that directly shape curriculum and experiential opportunities. This guide ranks research universities that pair strong academic departments with practical training, extensive elective concentrations, and institutional resources that matter most to employers and graduate programs.
Below we evaluate programs on research intensity, faculty expertise, breadth of concentrations, internship and co-op access, and support for entrepreneurship and global study. If you’re comparing program types, note that a strong business program can also exist at a liberal arts college—see our ranking of the best liberal arts colleges for a bachelor’s in business. For context on the degree’s popularity, visit the National Center for Educational Statistics.
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