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Concentration · CIP 52

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services

CIP 52 is the largest academic family in American higher education, covering everything from broad Business Administration degrees to focused tracks in Accounting, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Human Resources. With 92 distinct majors offered across 2,282 colleges and more than 472,000 completions annually, this is where most undecided students who know they want a 'business degree' eventually land. The family spans two-year technical programs and four-year management degrees alike, so the real question isn't whether to study business — it's which slice of it fits your goals.

Majors
92
Colleges
2,282
Annual completions
472,155
Top career
General and operations managers
Majors in this concentration

Sorted by popularity

Business Administration and Management, General

Top career: General and operations managers

2,282 colleges · 193,432 completions/yr

Business/Commerce, General

Top career: General and operations managers

838 colleges · 42,906 completions/yr

Marketing/Marketing Management, General

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

994 colleges · 42,445 completions/yr

Finance, General

Top career: General and operations managers

735 colleges · 42,214 completions/yr

Accounting

Top career: Accountants and auditors

1,377 colleges · 41,743 completions/yr

Management Information Systems, General

Top career: Computer and information systems managers

367 colleges · 7,648 completions/yr

Management Science

Top career: General and operations managers

184 colleges · 7,495 completions/yr

Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management

Top career: Industrial production managers

318 colleges · 6,935 completions/yr

Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General

Top career: Human resources specialists

376 colleges · 6,907 completions/yr

Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other

227 colleges · 6,667 completions/yr

Hospitality Administration/Management, General

Top career: Food service managers

423 colleges · 5,942 completions/yr

Accounting Technology/Technician and Bookkeeping

Top career: Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks

492 colleges · 5,742 completions/yr

Organizational Leadership

Top career: Managers, all other

264 colleges · 4,923 completions/yr

International Business/Trade/Commerce

Top career: General and operations managers

460 colleges · 4,340 completions/yr

Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies

Top career: General and operations managers

362 colleges · 4,070 completions/yr

Business/Managerial Economics

Top career: Management analysts

238 colleges · 4,031 completions/yr

Construction Management, General

Top career: Construction managers

149 colleges · 3,428 completions/yr

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other

79 colleges · 3,245 completions/yr

Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other

113 colleges · 3,164 completions/yr

Operations Management and Supervision

Top career: First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

176 colleges · 2,998 completions/yr

Fashion Merchandising

Top career: Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

96 colleges · 2,759 completions/yr

Real Estate

Top career: Property, real estate, and community association managers

156 colleges · 2,127 completions/yr

Sales, Distribution, and Marketing Operations, General

Top career: Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

142 colleges · 1,969 completions/yr

Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General

Top career: Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

470 colleges · 1,829 completions/yr

Organizational Behavior Studies

Top career: Human resources specialists

87 colleges · 1,821 completions/yr

Office Management and Supervision

Top career: First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

219 colleges · 1,304 completions/yr

Accounting and Finance

Top career: Accountants and auditors

97 colleges · 1,209 completions/yr

Hotel/Motel Administration/Management

Top career: Business operations specialists, all other

89 colleges · 1,103 completions/yr

Actuarial Science

Top career: Insurance underwriters

146 colleges · 1,022 completions/yr

Labor and Industrial Relations

Top career: Compliance officers

23 colleges · 1,005 completions/yr

Project Management

Top career: Managers, all other

52 colleges · 1,001 completions/yr

Insurance

Top career: Insurance sales agents

69 colleges · 906 completions/yr

Business Statistics

Top career: Data scientists

55 colleges · 843 completions/yr

Marketing, Other

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

79 colleges · 817 completions/yr

Accounting and Business/Management

Top career: Accountants and auditors

100 colleges · 780 completions/yr

Small Business Administration/Management

Top career: Managers, all other

120 colleges · 737 completions/yr

Financial Planning and Services

Top career: Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

61 colleges · 713 completions/yr

Retailing and Retail Operations

Top career: First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

29 colleges · 589 completions/yr

Tourism and Travel Services Management

Top career: Managers, all other

48 colleges · 542 completions/yr

Purchasing, Procurement/Acquisitions and Contracts Management

Top career: Administrative services managers

35 colleges · 541 completions/yr

Business/Corporate Communications, General

Top career: Public relations specialists

56 colleges · 540 completions/yr

Non-Profit/Public/Organizational Management

Top career: General and operations managers

75 colleges · 520 completions/yr

Selling Skills and Sales Operations

Top career: First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

49 colleges · 510 completions/yr

Banking and Financial Support Services

Top career: Tellers

66 colleges · 497 completions/yr

Human Resources Development

Top career: Training and development specialists

31 colleges · 463 completions/yr

Hospitality Administration/Management, Other

Top career: Managers, all other

36 colleges · 427 completions/yr

Meeting and Event Planning

Top career: Meeting, convention, and event planners

34 colleges · 391 completions/yr

Restaurant/Food Services Management

Top career: Food service managers

46 colleges · 382 completions/yr

Executive Assistant/Executive Secretary

Top career: Secretaries and administrative assistants, except legal, medical, and executive

75 colleges · 370 completions/yr

Human Resources Management and Services, Other

Top career: Human resources specialists

21 colleges · 289 completions/yr

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations, Other

33 colleges · 252 completions/yr

E-Commerce/Electronic Commerce

Top career: First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

36 colleges · 236 completions/yr

Digital Marketing

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

52 colleges · 235 completions/yr

Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry

Top career: Data entry keyers

64 colleges · 220 completions/yr

Transportation/Mobility Management

Top career: Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

25 colleges · 218 completions/yr

Traffic, Customs, and Transportation Clerk/Technician

Top career: Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance

1 colleges · 199 completions/yr

Science/Technology Management

Top career: Managers, all other

17 colleges · 175 completions/yr

Investments and Securities

Top career: Securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents

12 colleges · 152 completions/yr

Retail Management

Top career: General and operations managers

42 colleges · 152 completions/yr

Accounting and Related Services, Other

32 colleges · 151 completions/yr

Information Resources Management

Top career: Computer and information systems managers

26 colleges · 149 completions/yr

Hotel, Motel, and Restaurant Management

Top career: Food service managers

40 colleges · 139 completions/yr

Business Operations Support and Secretarial Services, Other

Top career: Business operations specialists, all other

20 colleges · 137 completions/yr

Risk Management

Top career: General and operations managers

6 colleges · 123 completions/yr

Resort Management

Top career: Lodging managers

12 colleges · 115 completions/yr

Knowledge Management

Top career: Computer and information systems managers

13 colleges · 108 completions/yr

International Marketing

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

7 colleges · 104 completions/yr

Specialized Merchandising, Sales, and Marketing Operations, Other

8 colleges · 102 completions/yr

Management Information Systems and Services, Other

Top career: Computer and information systems managers

21 colleges · 93 completions/yr

General Office Occupations and Clerical Services

Top career: Office clerks, general

33 colleges · 86 completions/yr

Finance and Financial Management Services, Other

Top career: Financial managers

27 colleges · 83 completions/yr

Labor Studies

Top career: Human resources managers

11 colleges · 70 completions/yr

Special Products Marketing Operations

Top career: First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

8 colleges · 68 completions/yr

General Merchandising, Sales, and Related Marketing Operations, Other

Top career: First-line supervisors of retail sales workers

14 colleges · 57 completions/yr

Social Entrepreneurship

Top career: General and operations managers

6 colleges · 54 completions/yr

Tourism and Travel Services Marketing Operations

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

23 colleges · 48 completions/yr

Customer Service Management

Top career: First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

17 colleges · 40 completions/yr

Hospitality and Recreation Marketing Operations

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

8 colleges · 40 completions/yr

Vehicle and Vehicle Parts and Accessories Marketing Operations

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

4 colleges · 39 completions/yr

Apparel and Accessories Marketing Operations

Top career: Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

8 colleges · 34 completions/yr

Taxation

Top career: Accountants and auditors

8 colleges · 29 completions/yr

Tourism Promotion Operations

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

3 colleges · 25 completions/yr

Public Finance

Top career: Financial managers

1 colleges · 23 completions/yr

Research and Development Management

Top career: Managers, all other

4 colleges · 23 completions/yr

Auditing

Top career: Accountants and auditors

5 colleges · 19 completions/yr

Business and Personal/Financial Services Marketing Operations

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

3 colleges · 19 completions/yr

Parts, Warehousing, and Inventory Management Operations

Top career: Production, planning, and expediting clerks

4 colleges · 19 completions/yr

Casino Management

Top career: First-line supervisors of gambling services workers

6 colleges · 15 completions/yr

Marketing Research

Top career: Market research analysts and marketing specialists

7 colleges · 9 completions/yr

Telecommunications Management

Top career: Managers, all other

5 colleges · 7 completions/yr

Customer Service Support/Call Center/Teleservice Operation

Top career: Customer service representatives

14 colleges · 5 completions/yr

Financial Risk Management

Top career: General and operations managers

2 colleges · 2 completions/yr

Section 9 · Frequently asked

Common questions

How do I choose between the majors in this concentration?
Start with the career outcome, not the major name. General and operations managers — the top career linked to several majors in this family — earn a median wage of $102,950, but accountants and auditors, human resources specialists, and market research analysts each follow different degree paths. If you can name a specific job title you're aiming for, work backward from that to the major; if you can't, Business Administration and Management, General gives you the most flexibility while you figure it out.
What's the difference between Business Administration and Management, General and Business/Commerce, General?
Business Administration and Management, General (CIP 52.0201) is the dominant credential in this family, with 193,432 completions and availability at all 2,282 colleges in the dataset — it typically emphasizes organizational management and operational decision-making. Business/Commerce, General (CIP 52.0101) is offered at 838 colleges and produced 42,906 completions; it tends to be a broader, less management-focused framing that some schools use for foundational or pre-transfer business coursework. In practice, the distinction matters most when you're evaluating a specific school's curriculum rather than comparing majors in the abstract.
Which majors in this family are most common at the associate's level?
Business Administration and Management, General and Accounting are the two CIP 52 majors most frequently offered as associate's programs, given that Business Administration appears at all 2,282 colleges in the data — a number that includes a large share of community colleges — and Accounting is available at 1,377 institutions. These credentials are often designed as either workforce-entry pathways or transfer bridges into four-year programs. Students pursuing an associate's in this family should confirm early whether their specific program is designed to transfer, because curriculum alignment varies significantly.
What do graduates from this concentration typically earn?
The median earnings across the CIP 52 family sit at roughly $48,051, but that number masks a wide spread. The top career linked to several majors here — general and operations managers — carries a median wage of $102,950, while roles like customer service representatives ($42,830) and office clerks ($43,630) anchor the lower end. Specialty majors such as Finance, Accounting, and Management Information Systems tend to channel graduates toward higher-paying roles than the broad Business Administration path does, though individual outcomes depend heavily on employer, industry, and location.
Is a broad business degree worth it, or should I specialize?
The honest answer depends on how certain you are about your direction. Business Administration and Management, General produced 193,432 completions in a single year, which signals strong employer acceptance — but it also means you're entering a crowded credential pool. Majors like Management Information Systems (7,648 completions, 367 colleges) or Logistics and Supply Chain Management (6,935 completions, 318 colleges) produce far fewer graduates annually, which can be a real differentiator in hiring. Specializing makes most sense when you can clearly connect the credential to a job family you actually want.
Which majors in this family lead to the most clearly defined career paths?
Accounting points most directly toward a single career cluster — accountants and auditors — and is one of the few business majors with a formal licensure track (the CPA exam). Human Resources Management similarly aligns tightly with human resources specialists. Marketing/Marketing Management maps to market research analysts and marketing specialists. By contrast, Business Administration and Management, General is intentionally diffuse, which is a feature if you want options but a liability if you need a recruiter to immediately understand what you studied.