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What can you do with a business management degree?

Published: June 10, 2025

Five Knacktive students hold new branding and marketing materials for the City of Maryville during their final pitch. Knacktive, a student-run, full-service agency, divides students into competitive teams to produce a promotional campaign for a paying client.

In today’s rapidly changing business world, the ability to be versatile and adaptable is crucial for success. High-quality business management degree programs are designed to cultivate these traits while also honing critical skills like leadership, problem-solving and strategic thinking. A business management degree can lead to career opportunities across nearly every industry, making it one of the most valuable educational paths available.

If you’ve ever wondered, “What can you do with a business management degree?” this article is for you. It will explore how a business management program helps create forward-thinking leaders – the kind of professionals global organizations are eager to hire. One example is the business management degree program at Northwest Missouri State University, which equips students with the skills needed to excel in today’s competitive business environment.

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Is business management a good major?

A business management major provides essential knowledge on how organizations operate, maintain efficiency and drive success. Northwest’s business management degree helps you develop key skills in leadership, decision-making, problem-solving and communication – all critical for coordinating teams and resources to achieve operational goals.

All business management degree programs cover core concepts like accounting, marketing and operations. Northwest’s business management degree goes one step further by taking a profession-based learning approach, giving you experiential learning opportunities so you can practice what you learn.

With guidance from Northwest’s Professional Advisory Board, our curriculum aligns with current job market needs, ensuring you're prepared for success. Our business management degree opens up numerous job opportunities, with 95% of Northwest grads securing employment or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

Explore Northwest's Business Management Degree

Why more companies need business management grads

You’ll never have to answer, “What can you do with a business management degree?” when talking to employers. Companies like Chase Bank and Northwestern Mutual already understand the value you bring by having a business management degree. Employers actively seek business management graduates for these reasons and more:

Navigating economic complexity

Intricate global supply chains, regulatory environments and market dynamics make today’s business environment more complex than ever. Employers need savvy business leaders to help them navigate these uncharted waters.

Driving digital transformation

Organizations across all sectors are undergoing digital transformations. They need more managers who understand both technology implementation and change management principles.

Managing evolving workforces

Managing multi-generational, remote and globally distributed teams requires professionals with advanced leadership skills and cultural competencies that business management programs develop.

Leveraging data-driven decision making

Companies now rely heavily on analytics and data-informed strategies – areas where business management graduates receive specialized training.

Staying ahead of competitive pressure

With tightening profit margins and increased competition, effective management is a critical differentiator between an organization’s success and failure.

Northwest’s business management degree program directly addresses these market needs. With an emphasis on real-world case studies, negotiation skills and collaborative projects, Northwest prepares you to take the reins and lead through uncertainty.

Four entrepreneurial-minded students stand before a panel of business professionals and pitch their business idea in hopes of earning some funding to help launch their start-up.

Exploring career paths: What can you do with a business management degree?

There is no shortage of jobs with a business management degree. That’s because employers value the skills business management graduates bring to the table – especially skills such as teamwork, leadership and analytical thinking.

At Northwest, our business management degree equips you with solid foundational business knowledge and specialized management skills to complement your future career goals. Here are some of the career paths our graduates have charted with their business management degrees:

Corporate Management

  • General managers: Overseeing daily operations and ensuring organizational goals are met across various departments.
  • Operations managers: Managing production, quality control and process optimization in manufacturing or service industries.
  • Project managers: Leading and organizing specific projects from conception to completion, ensuring timely and efficient execution.

Entrepreneurship

  • Business consultants: Advising companies on strategy, operations and management to help them improve performance and efficiency.
  • Small business owners: Operating and growing small businesses in various sectors, taking on roles from marketing to finance.
  • Startup founders: Launching and running new businesses, handling everything from product development to marketing and finance.

Finance and Banking

  • Branch managers: Managing daily operations of a bank branch, ensuring customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
  • Financial advisors: Advising individuals and businesses on investment strategies, tax planning and wealth management.
  • Insurance administrators: Overseeing insurance policy management and claims processes for clients and companies.
  • Investment managers: Making investment decisions and managing portfolios to maximize returns for clients.

Health Care Administration

  • Health care managers: Overseeing the operations of health care facilities, including hospitals and clinics, ensuring compliance and efficiency.
  • Health services managers: Managing health care programs and services, coordinating staff and handling budgets in health care settings.
  • Hospital administrators: Running hospital operations, including budgeting, compliance and ensuring quality patient care.
  • Medical office administrators: Managing administrative tasks in health care offices, including scheduling, billing and staff coordination.

Human Resources

  • Employee relations coordinators: Managing workplace culture, resolving conflicts and maintaining positive employee relations.
  • HR specialists: Handling recruitment, training and employee relations while ensuring compliance with labor laws.
  • Talent acquisition managers: Leading recruitment efforts and attracting top candidates for the organization.

Marketing and Sales

  • Brand managers: Building and maintaining a brand’s identity, ensuring consistency in messaging and customer experience.
  • Market research analysts: Gathering and analyzing data on market trends, consumer behavior and competitors to inform business decisions.
  • Marketing managers: Developing strategies to promote products or services, analyze market trends and identify target audiences.
  • Sales managers: Overseeing sales teams, setting goals and driving strategies to increase revenue.

Nonprofit Management

  • Fundraising managers: Planning and executing fundraising campaigns to support nonprofit organizations' missions.
  • Nonprofit directors: Leading and managing nonprofit organizations, setting strategic goals and securing funding.
  • Program coordinators: Overseeing the development and delivery of nonprofit programs that align with the organization's mission.
  • Volunteer services managers: Managing volunteer recruitment, training and retention programs in nonprofit organizations.

Real Estate

  • Property managers: Managing rental properties, handling tenant relations and ensuring compliance with regulations.
  • Real estate investors: Identifying profitable property opportunities for investment, acquisition and development.
  • Real estate managers: Overseeing property portfolios, ensuring their profitability and proper maintenance.

Not all students follow the same path to their future careers. In addition to a four-year B.S. in business management View PDF, Northwest offers a B.A.S. in business management. These flexible, personalized programs are designed for students who have completed a vocational, technical or associate degree. They build on the skills and practical career training you’ve already gained, helping you launch your career faster.

Want to accelerate your education and earn both your undergraduate degree and MBA at the same time? Northwest’s accelerated business program, CATapult, makes it possible in just four years.

Future outlook for jobs with a business management degree

The outlook for jobs with a business management degree remains strong, with positive growth expected across multiple sectors. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), management occupations are projected to grow by 8% through 2031. As of May 2023, the median annual wage for management roles was $116,880 – significantly higher than the median annual wage for all occupations ($48,060).

As skilled workers retire and business practices evolve, exciting opportunities are emerging for business management grads. Experts predict that companies will increasingly hire leaders capable of guiding digital adoption and managing the human aspects of technological change. Additionally, as businesses place more emphasis on environmental and social governance, management roles focused on sustainability initiatives will continue to expand.

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What to look for in a business management degree

When evaluating a business management degree program, several factors can significantly impact your educational experience and career outcomes. Be sure to evaluate these factors:

Curriculum relevance

Look for programs like Northwest’s that involve industry professionals in curriculum development. Our Professional Advisory Board ensures coursework addresses current market demands, preparing you for actual jobs with a business management degree upon graduation.

Experiential learning opportunities

Hands-on experience is critical. Northwest’s experiential learning opportunities, including Knacktive, our student-run, full-service agency, and the New Venture Pitch Competition, provide practical applications employers value more than theoretical knowledge alone.

Faculty expertise

Faculty members with international experience offer unique perspectives on what you can do with a business management degree across different cultures. Look for professors with both academic credentials and real-world business experience.

Flexibility

Consider programs that offer multiple pathways, like Northwest’s traditional B.S., B.A.S. for transfer students and the accelerated CATapult program. Find out if the program offers online and part-time options to accommodate your life and schedule.

Employment outcomes

Research employment outcomes for any business management degree program you’re considering. An exceptional success rate, like Northwest’s 95% placement rate within six months of graduation, demonstrates strong employer connections and program effectiveness.

Networking opportunities

The connections you build while earning your business management degree can be just as important as the degree itself. At Northwest, student organizations like Delta Mu Delta and industry networking events offer valuable connections that often lead to job opportunities.

Global perspective

Since business is global, you need a global business understanding. Northwest’s study abroad programs in China, UAE, Africa and Ireland broaden your perspective on what you can do with a business management degree across the world.

Launch your future career in business management at Northwest

The variety of jobs with a business management degree continues to expand. Organizations recognize the value of versatile, dependable and strategic leaders – and that’s exactly what you’ll become at Northwest.

Now that you know what you can do with a business management degree, explore Northwest’s business management degree program, which provides career-relevant experiences from day one.



Contact

Dr. Mark Hornickel
Administration Building
Room 215
660.562.1704
mhorn@nwmissouri.edu