Large corporations, government agencies and small businesses, as well as banks and advertising agencies, are all looking for the business savvy and management skills that students could acquire during an online general business program. General business graduates are typically multifaceted individuals that could complete a variety of tasks from performing financial audits to managing project teams. Careers in business and finance are projected to be stable, and graduates could find excellent incomes and advancement opportunities. (1-3)
Career Options for Online Business Programs
Completing an online business program could open the door to a variety of careers in accounting, finance, business management, operations management, logistics, advertising and public relations, to name a few. (1, 7) These programs are available at both the associate and bachelor’s levels and can be found at a variety of public, private and online institutions. (5-7) While the online associate degree typically provides students with an overview of general business topics and systems, the bachelor’s program usually delves deeper into the business core and allows students to customize their education through electives. (5,6) For most business careers, the bachelor’s degree is considered the gold standard. (1)
These versatile online programs are designed to expose students to all the facets of the business world through classes in finance, accounting, management, communications, computer information systems and marketing. Online students could network with business professionals through internships, group projects and real-world simulations. The career opportunities for online graduates could be extensive, from a financial analyst on Wall Street to a marketing specialist promoting new products in the world market. Other career titles could include accountant, budget analyst, cost estimator, fundraisers, loan officers and tax examiners. (5,6)
Salary
From 2012-2022, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected business and financial operations occupations to grow at an average rate of 13 percent. (2, 3) However, some fields, like that of market research analysts, are projected to see much faster than average growth that decade. (2) The overall projected wages of business and financial operations occupations were well above the average with mean wages of $71,020 in May 2013. Profiled below are the mean wages of just a few of the careers available to online general business graduates, according to the BLS in 2013. (4)
• Management Analysts: $89,990
• Market Research Analysts: $67,780
• Financial Analysts: $91,620
• Personal Financial Advisors: $99,920
• Business Operations Specialists: $69,030

Work Life
Business professionals are necessary in every industry to oversee the operations of companies and financial sectors. Prominent industries are government, management, finance, manufacturing and wholesale trade. Business professionals in general work full-time in an office setting; however, overtime, nights and weekends may be required to meet tight deadlines. These professionals could work alone or in teams, and travel to meetings, conferences and clients is typical. Additionally, self-employment opportunities are available. (1-3)
Citations
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Business and Financial Occupations, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (visited October 14, 2014).
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Market Research Analysts, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/home.htm (visited October 14, 2014).
3. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2014-15 Edition, Financial Analysts, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/business-and-financial/financial-analysts.htm#tab-6 (visited October 14, 2014).
4. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, 2014-15 Edition, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2013, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oes/2013/may/oes_nat.htm#13-0000 (visited October 14, 2014).
5. Rio Salado College, General Business, on the Internet at http://www.riosalado.edu/programs/genbusiness/Pages/aas.aspx (visited October 14, 2014).
6. Kansas State University, General Business Bachelor’s Degree, on the Internet at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/business/general-business/ (visited October 14, 2014).
7. College Board, Major: General Business, on the Internet at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/majors/business-business-general (visited October 14, 2014).