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College of business & information technology

Online business degrees

Our online business degrees prepare you for your next step in your business goals, from launching your own company as an entrepreneur to developing next-level skills in your current career. 

Alumnus Stephen P.
BSB/M 2012, MBA 2022

Our online business degrees prepare you for your next step in your business goals, from launching your own company as an entrepreneur to developing next-level skills in your current career. 

Business bachelor's degrees

Business master's degrees

Business doctoral degrees

Business associate degrees

Business certificates

Program finder

Why choose a business degree?

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, business majors are among the most popular undergraduate degrees in the U.S. Both versatile and valuable, a business degree can prepare you for careers in a range of industries. You can also develop a multitude of in-demand and transferrable skills as well as a solid foundation in quintessential business topics.  

Potential job fields 

  • Accounting
  • Business Consultancy
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Finance
  • Human Resources
  • Management
  • Marketing and Advertising
  • Media
  • Nonprofit Sector
  • Retail and Sales 
Prospective student completes an online application

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Start your application for free or request additional information. 

Stand out with an in-demand business degree


00:57 fact many are programmatically 00:59 accredited and courses are taught by 01:01 accomplished professionals in business 01:03 enrolling is easy there's no application 01:06 fee no sat or gmat test requirements and 01:10 no out-of-pocket costs for transcripts 01:12 we request them for you if you have 01:14 eligible transfer credits we'll work 01:16 with you to get the credit you deserve 01:18 this means you could save up to 75 on 01:21 your bachelor's degree to help you 01:22 graduate in as little as a year plus 01:25 with up to 18 opportunities to start you 01:27 can begin your degree when you're ready 01:29 stay competitive now and in the future 01:32 with an online business degree 01:35 [Music] 01:42 you

How can an online business degree benefit you?

A business degree can provide several benefits depending on what’s most valuable to you. 

  • If you want to earn a degree while working full-time, an online program from a reputable institution can provide the flexibility you need. 
  • If you want to tailor your education to fit your passion and talents, you can choose from several types of business degrees that can be general or specialized based on your goals. 
  • If you want to expand your professional opportunities, a business degree is a great place to start. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Employment in business and financial operations occupations is projected to grow 7% between 2021 and 2031."[1]
  • If you’re interested in starting your own venture, you can develop entrepreneurial skills and build a network of potential colleagues or mentors in your classes. 

[1] The BLS Projected Growth for 2021-2031 is published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This data reflects the BLS’ projections of national (not local) conditions. These data points are not specific to University of Phoenix students or graduates.

What kind of business degree is right for you?

Our online business degrees and certificate programs match the versatility of the business world. Choose from 12 business degree and certificate specializations and align your program to your main area of interest. You can develop foundational business knowledge while honing skills in a specific area. 

Please note: the topics covered in each area may vary due to differences in the curriculum depending on which program and degree level you choose. 

Accounting focuses on auditing, maintaining and recording financial transactions. Why study accounting? You may gain a valuable, versatile and in-demand skill set for a range of business careers. 

Topics covered: 

  • Accounting law
  • Accounting software 
  • Auditing and taxation 
  • Capital budgeting statements 
  • Financial and managerial accounting
  • Generally accepted accounting principles

Business administration focuses on overseeing and supervising day-to-day operations. Why study business administration? You can learn how to make an impact in the business industry. 

Topics covered: 

  • Business communications
  • Finance, marketing and accounting 
  • Implementation of change management 
  • Leadership theories, models and principles
  • Organizational structure and design
  • Sustainability in a global environment   

Business analytics focuses on solving problems with data analysis and statistical models. Why study business analytics? Being able to interpret data can make you an asset in the business world. 

Topics covered: 

  • Business information systems
  • Business research and decision-making
  • Data analytics and data modeling
  • Ethical standards and security policies
  • Graphical representation of data sets (data visualization)
  • Software, such as Microsoft® Office

Business management focuses on coordinating a company’s activities and resources. Why study business management? You can strengthen your interpersonal skills for exciting career opportunities. 

Topics covered:

  • Business law and regulatory issues
  • Financial management for small business
  • Human and fiscal resource management
  • Leadership and management strategies 
  • Logistics in global business operations
  • Market research
  • Marketing strategies

Leadership and management focuses on influencing and motivating a team to accomplish a shared goal. Why study leadership and management? You can learn how to lead teams more effectively. 

Topics covered: 

  • Business law and ethics 
  • Business performance management
  • Communication in a business setting
  • Influential and inclusive leadership 
  • Operational excellence
  • Personnel performance
  • Risk management

Communication focuses on creating and delivering verbal and non-verbal messages for various audiences. Why study communication? You can hone your speaking and writing skills for diverse careers.  

Topics covered: 

  • Communication technologies
  • Corporate communication and public relations
  • Global and intercultural communication
  • Logical argumentation and rhetoric 
  • Management theory and practice
  • Mass communication and media
  • Research and investigative journalism

Entrepreneurship focuses on creating and maintaining sustainable business ventures. Why study entrepreneurship? You can become well-versed in many areas of business that are beneficial for startups. 

Topics covered: 

  • Business models
  • Capital management
  • Entrepreneurial planning
  • Financial planning and debt management
  • Small business marketing and operations
  • Strategic planning and modeling 

Finance is a field of study focused on managing money and investments through banking, trading and economics. Why study finance? You can improve your financial literacy and learn how to analyze numbers and turn them into actional business insights. These are vital skills in a constantly evolving industry. 

Topics covered: 

  • Capital markets 
  • Corporate finance concepts
  • Financial planning and analysis 
  • Investment portfolio management 
  • Principles of accounting
  • Supply and demand 

Human resources focuses on recruiting, hiring, training and retaining job applicants and personnel. Why study human resources? You can learn valuable skills relevant to all kinds of businesses. 

Topics covered: 

  • Employee development
  • Employment law
  • Ethical and social responsibility
  • Human resource risk management
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Talent management
  • Total compensation

Marketing focuses on promoting and selling products or services. Why study marketing? You can understand why customers behave certain ways and leverage your knowledge in your chosen career. 

Topics covered: 

  • Consumer behavior 
  • Electronic marketing strategies  
  • Integrated marketing communications
  • Marketing analysis and management 
  • Product design and development
  • Public relations and publicity
  • Strategic marketing plans

Operations management focuses on maximizing efficiency, productivity and profitability. Why study operations management? You can learn how to help ensure day-to-day operations run smoothly. 

Topics covered: 

  • Business planning
  • Continuous improvement process 
  • Enterprise resource management
  • Global sourcing and procurement 
  • Operational and logistical performance
  • Supply chain management 

Project management focuses on planning and organizing all aspects of a project to achieve a goal. Why study project management? You can develop a versatile skill set for a variety of jobs and careers. 

Topics covered: 

  • Agile project management 
  • Procurement and sourcing 
  • Project and process tailoring 
  • Project management software
  • Scrum methodologies 
  • Team motivation and management
  • Tracking and measuring progress

Top business degrees selected by students

My MBA opened professional opportunities. Because of my knowledge about the business industry, I have been invited to speak to employees at organizations such as City of Hope, Google and others.”

Marie Q. | 2018
Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing, ’12;
Master Business Administration, ‘15

Business degrees from a specialized, career-focused college 

When you pursue an online business degree or certificate, you’ll join the College of Business and Information Technology. You’ll learn from leaders in the field who bring practical knowledge and theory to your courses. Select business programs are accredited by ACBSP, which reflect our dedication to academic rigor, industry drivers and your success as a student.

Learn more about student and faculty demographics in the College of Business and Information Technology

36

Average student age
 

59.9%

Female students
 

97

Countries where students are located 

41,137

Average total degree enrollment

806,881

Degrees and certificates awarded 

17.7

Average years of faculty teaching experience 

32

Average years of faculty professional experience

56

Faculty members with experience as CEOs 

385

Faculty members with experience as directors 

849

Faculty members in the college 

Learn more about demographics

Enrollment representative Sarah P.

Enrollment Rep. Sarah P.

Questions about online business programs?

Speak with an enrollment representative today.

Call us at 844-937-8679 or chat with us 7 days a week.

Explore business degree by level

Associate business degrees

Associate business degrees

Bachelor's in business

Bachelor's in business

Master's degrees in business

Master's degrees in business

Doctoral degrees in business

Doctoral degrees in business

Earn career-relevant skills in weeks – not years

Get value from your education before you even graduate. Update your resumé and LinkedIn profile with learned skills when you complete every 5- or 6-week course in our associate, bachelor's and master's programs.

Build skills on your way to your degree

Meet your college deans

Our college deans focus on developing a career-relevant curriculum. They bring industry experience to the classroom and lead a faculty of academic professionals with one goal in mind—to help you earn the skills you need to pursue your career.

Kathryn Uhles, Dean

Kathryn Uhles, MSP, MIS

Dean, College of Business and Information Technology

Joseph Aranyosi, Associate Dean

Joseph Aranyosi, MFA

Associate Dean, College of Business and Information Technology

Natalie Pratt, Associate Dean

Natalie Pratt, MBA, MC, MEd

Associate Dean, College of Business and Information Technology

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Frequently asked questions

Depending on which degree option you’re pursuing, and how many eligible credits you can transfer toward your program, the program length can range from 18 months to four years.

  • Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals: approximately 2 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting: approximately 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting with an Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals: approximately 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Business: approximately 4 years 
  • Bachelor of Science in Business with an Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals: approximately 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Management: approximately 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science in Management with an Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals: approximately 4 years
  • Master of Business Administration: approximately 18 months
  • Master of Business Administration (Competency Based): approximately 1 year
  • Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration: approximately 2 years
  • Master of Management: approximately 20 months
  • Doctor of Business Administration: approximately 3 years and 2 months
  • Doctor of Management: approximately 3 years and 2 months

Students can personalize their degree programs by adding certificates in various business areas such as project management, human resource management, marketing, business analytics, accounting, finance and more.

See all certificates >

From accounting and business analytics to entrepreneurship, finance and marketing, you can specialize your degree to best align with your career goals. You can choose from a variety of certificates – all designed to prepare you with the in-demand and career-relevant business skills employers seek. 

See skills employers want >

You may have multiple ways to save on an online business degree at University of Phoenix. From eligible transfer credits and work or life experience to scholarships and testing programs, we want to help you explore how you may be able to earn your business degree faster and for less.

 Try our Savings Explorer™ tool >

Coursework in our business degrees is relevant and taught by faculty with experience in their fields, helping you gain in-demand skills in a growing field.

By following a “Learn, Practice, Apply” curriculum model, you’ll learn the key elements of business and how to apply that knowledge and skill set to real-world scenarios. These practical activities will give you the valuable feedback you need to better review and prepare for assignments throughout your courses.

Yes, we offer accredited business degree programs. University of Phoenix has been continually accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), hlcommission.org, since 1978. Additionally, some of our online business degrees have been accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). These programs include:

  • Associate of Arts with a concentration in Accounting Fundamentals*
  • Associate of Arts with a concentration in Business Fundamentals
  • Bachelor of Science in Accounting
  • Bachelor of Science in Business
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Management
  • Master of Science in Accountancy*
  • Doctor of Business Administration
  • Doctor of Management

*These programs are not available for new enrollments.

Learn more about accreditation at University of Phoenix >

*While widely available, not all programs are available to residents of all states. Please check with a University Enrollment Representative.