by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in General Business/Commerce involves the study of Business/commerce, General. A Program That Focuses On The General Study Of Business, Including The Processes Of Interchanging Goods And Services (Buying, Selling And Producing), Business Organization, And Accounting As Used In Profit-Making And Nonprofit Public And Private Institutions And Agencies. The Programs May Prepare Individuals To Apply Business Principles And Techniques In Various Occupational Settings. Continue reading for the key facts every general business/commerce student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering general business/commerce programs.
Across the country, general business/commerce draws strong interest, with 57,976 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best General Business/Commerce Schools ranking analyzes these 815 schools to determine the best overall colleges for general business/commerce students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of general business/commerce programs later in this article.
Programs in General Business/Commerce emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations general business/commerce graduates commonly enter.
Skills developed in a general business/commerce program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a general business/commerce major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several general business/commerce degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 1,541 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 17,707 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 25,923 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 12,447 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 190 |
People currently working in careers related to general business/commerce tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 43.9% |
| Master’s degree | 14.9% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 10.4% |
| Some college courses | 9.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 7.7% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 6.3% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 2.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 1.8% |
| First professional degree | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.7% |
| Post-doctoral training | 0.1% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in general business/commerce careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in general business/commerce can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to general business/commerce.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general business/commerce.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Appraisers of Personal and Business Property | 814,640 | 8.0% |
| Geothermal Production Managers | 503,620 | 1.9% |
| Construction Managers | 496,716 | -0.3% |
| Management Analysts | 484,759 | 12.6% |
| Managers, All Other | 468,025 | 6.2% |
| Biomass Power Plant Managers | 450,707 | 4.2% |
| Chief Sustainability Officers | 440,982 | 0.5% |
| Administrative Services Managers | 425,994 | 9.0% |
The U.S. Department of Education tracks median earnings of general business/commerce graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $57,182 |
| 4 years | $62,451 |
| 5 years | $70,051 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for general business/commerce graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers general business/commerce grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Personal Service Managers, All Other | $176,674 |
| Entertainment and Recreation Managers, Except Gambling | $170,172 |
| Loss Prevention Managers | $165,723 |
| Biofuels Production Managers | $164,096 |
| Geothermal Production Managers | $160,381 |
| Administrative Services Managers | $158,084 |
| Facilities Managers | $157,669 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $156,089 |
With 815 different general business/commerce programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased general business/commerce school rankings to help you.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
