Business
Quick Facts: Business Training
Where it's offered
Business programs are offered at 130 schools across 40 states. Most students attend a school within driving distance of home — use the state picker below to see programs near you.
Earnings expectations
Graduates earn approximately $36,982/year on average one year after completion, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard. Pay scales with experience, certifications, and regional cost-of-living.
Apprenticeship pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship pathways related to Business — earn-while-you-learn alternatives to traditional schooling. See apprenticeship.gov for the federal registry.
Program quality benchmark
Across the 130 schools we analyze, the average TradeSchoolOutlook Score is 58/100. Higher-scoring programs combine strong graduate earnings, manageable cost, and strong job-market demand — see the leaderboard further down for the highest-rated options.
What Business Graduates Do
Your career in business often starts by mastering a specific function. You might begin as a project coordinator, using tools like Asana and Slack to keep teams on schedule, or as a management analyst, digging into spreadsheets and interviewing staff to pinpoint how a company can improve efficiency. Your days are a mix of collaboration, problem-solving, and communicating your findings to leadership. As you gain experience, you’ll progress from executing tasks to directing them, becoming an operations manager who oversees a department’s budget and staff or a sales manager leading a team to hit its targets.
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The path is clear: you learn the business from the ground up, advance to manage a team or major project, and can eventually rise to a senior role like general manager or chief executive, setting strategy for the entire organization. Demand is high across all management fields, with roles like management analyst and construction manager growing especially fast. While you start with a solid salary, experienced managers and specialists command high six-figure incomes. AI tools will increasingly assist with data analysis and scheduling, but they can’t replace the core of your job: leading people, negotiating deals, and making critical strategic judgments.
Related programs worth comparing: Construction Management, International Business, and Hospitality Management.
Registered Apprenticeship Pathways
The U.S. Department of Labor recognizes 8 registered apprenticeship occupations related to Business. Apprenticeships let you earn while you learn — most have zero tuition costs and pay wages from day one.
| Apprenticeship | Training Hours | Type | Salary RangeSalary | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Health Information Management Business Analyst
RAPIDS 2027CB |
Competency | Competency | $77K – $101,190 – $133K | 8.8% |
|
Health Information Management Data Analyst
RAPIDS 2028CB |
Competency | Competency | $77K – $101,190 – $133K | 8.8% |
|
Health Information Management Privacy And Security Officer
RAPIDS 2073CB |
Competency | Competency | $100K – $136,550 – $179K | 4.5% |
|
Management Systems Auditor
RAPIDS 2082CB |
Competency | Competency | $77K – $101,190 – $133K | 8.8% |
|
Operations Management
RAPIDS 2060HY |
4318-4820 hrs | Hybrid | $67K – $102,950 – $164K | 4.4% |
|
Operations Management (General And Operations Managers)
RAPIDS 2060CB |
Competency | Competency | $67K – $102,950 – $164K | 4.4% |
|
Storage And Distribution Manager
RAPIDS 2095 |
2000 hrs
~1.0 yrs |
Time | $78K – $102,010 – $136K | 6.1% |
|
Wine Maker (Vinous Liquor)
RAPIDS 34 |
4000 hrs
~2.0 yrs |
Time | $95K – $121,440 – $156K | 1.9% |
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Registered Apprenticeship Partners Information Database (RAPIDS). Wages and job growth from Bureau of Labor Statistics 2024–2034 projections.
Find Business Programs in Your State
Trade and community college programs are local decisions — most students pick a school within driving distance. Business is offered at 130 schools across 40 states. Pick your state to see a local comparison (states with fewer programs link to the state hub).
Top Business Programs Nationally
For context, here are the highest-scoring Business programs in the country. Most students attend a school within 60 miles of home, so your state list above is usually more actionable — but these are the benchmarks others compete against.
Top 20 of 130 schools ranked by TradeSchoolOutlook Score. Click any row for full earnings projections and career analysis.
Highest Earning Business Programs
Schools where Business graduates earn the most in their first year after graduation.
| School | 1-Year Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas More University | $83,571/yr | 73 |
| Indiana University-Bloomington | $71,550/yr | 89 |
| Empire State University | $62,409/yr | 79 |
| Davenport University | $49,530/yr | 68 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-National & Global | $49,463/yr | 75 |
| Indiana Wesleyan University-Marion | $49,463/yr | 67 |
| Lehigh Carbon Community College | $47,276/yr | 77 |
| James A. Rhodes State College | $45,238/yr | 77 |
| Strayer University-District of Columbia | $44,154/yr | 69 |
| Strayer University-Virginia | $44,154/yr | 69 |
Best ROI for Business
Schools with the highest earnings-to-tuition ratio for Business.
| School | ROI Multiple | Earnings | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabrillo College | 445.1x | $31,951/yr | 82 |
| Southeast New Mexico College | 169.6x | $30,628/yr | 80 |
| Collin County Community College District | 155.1x | $33,937/yr | 82 |
| Victor Valley College | 150.1x | $26,272/yr | 76 |
| San Jacinto Community College | 129.2x | $33,572/yr | 81 |
| Pima Community College | 111.5x | $31,107/yr | 78 |
| Dallas College | 110.9x | $34,095/yr | 80 |
| Austin Community College District | 107.1x | $43,267/yr | 85 |
| New Mexico State University-Grants | 92.9x | $30,628/yr | 77 |
| NorthWest Arkansas Community College | 91.2x | $31,888/yr | 77 |
Related Majors
Explore similar fields of study.
Considering a 4-Year Degree?
Compare the trade route with a bachelor's degree. See how Business degree programs stack up on earnings and ROI.