Best Undergraduate Business Schools

Obtaining an undergraduate degree in business is an exciting and important first step in many different types of careers.

Business is one of the most popular majors in the United States, and there are many business schools where you can choose to study. You can get a business degree at top undergraduate business schools nationwide, and choosing the right school can seem impossible.

Aside from school rankings when choosing a business school, there are many factors to consider, but it is important to be informed about the most prestigious business schools. This article has compiled a list of the nation's best undergraduate business schools.

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Top 15 Best Undergraduate Business Programs

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

Tuition: $24,167

Acceptance rate: 9%

The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania is rated the top business school in the nation.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA

Tuition: $19,99811

Acceptance rate: 7%

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is one of the top colleges in the country, and its business school is one of the top business schools.

University of California Berkeley

Berkeley, CA

Tuition: $19,329

Acceptance rate: 17%

The University of California Berkeley is a top public university, and the Haas School of Business has excellent undergraduate business programs.

University of Michigan Ann Arbor

Ann Arbor, MI

Tuition: $17,832

Acceptance rate: 26%

University of Michigan's Ross School of Business has excellently rated undergraduate business programs. The University of Michigan is one of the top-rated public universities.

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, PA

Tuition: $36,983

Acceptance rate: 17%

Carnegie Mellon is an excellent school with many highly-ranked programs, including its business school. It is an excellent place to major in business.

New York University

New York, NY

Tuition: $45,417

Acceptance rate: 21%

New York University's Stern School of Business is among the most highly-ranked undergraduate business schools. Seated in New York City, it is an excellent choice of place to study business.

University of Texas Austin

Austin, TX

Tuition: $16,892

Acceptance rate: 32%

The University of Texas is one of the top public schools in the country and is home to the McCombs School of Business.

Cornell University

Ithaca, NY

Tuition: $27,522

Acceptance rate: 11%

Cornell University's SC Johnson College of Business is an excellent business school choice, being one of the top-rated business programs and at an Ivy League.

Indiana University Bloomington

Bloomington, IN

Tuition: $13,191

Acceptance rate: 80%

Indiana University Bloomington is a great college with a vibrant reputation. Its business school is ranked among other great undergraduate business schools.

Apply for scholarships in Indiana to help you pay for college at Indiana University Bloomington!

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC

Tuition: $10,038

Acceptance rate: 25%

The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill is one of the nation's top public universities and is home to an excellent and top-ranked school of business.

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, CA

Tuition: $39,759

Acceptance rate: 16%

University of Southern California's Marshall School of Business is among the top-ranked undergraduate business schools. Located in Los Angeles, this is a great school of business.

University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA

Tuition: $19,043

Acceptance rate: 23%

The University of Virginia is one of the best public universities in the United States. Its business school provides an excellent education for business majors.

Washington University in St. Louis

Saint Louis, MO

Tuition: $27,233

Acceptance rate: 16%

Washington University in St. Louis has an excellent reputation. Its undergraduate business school, the Olin Business School, is an excellent place for undergraduate students to choose to study business.

University of Washington

Seattle, WA

Tuition: $9,661

Acceptance rate: 56%

The University of Washington is a highly-ranked public university and is an excellent West Coast option for business majors. The school is home to the Foster School of Business.

If you are curious? Check out what you can do with a business degree.

Business school scholarships on Bold.org

Bold.org has many business school scholarships that are available for business students to apply to. Below are some examples of the hundreds of opportunities at Bold.org.

Tony Alviani Memorial Scholarship

Amount: $500

For: All students

Deadline: October 1, 2023

This scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior or current undergraduate student who plans to or is already pursuing a business or computer science degree.

Jorian Kuran Harris (Shugg) Helping Heart Foundation Scholarship

Amount: $650

For: High school seniors or undergraduate students who have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and are studying business or entrepreneurship.

Deadline: June 23, 2023

This scholarship will support a high school senior or undergraduate interested in pursuing a career in business or entrepreneurship.

Deborah Thomas Scholarship Award

Amount: $500

For: High school juniors and seniors who are studying business, medicine, computer science, or art

Deadline: July 14, 2023

This scholarship aims to honor Deborah Thomas's life by supporting students seeking higher education so they have the resources necessary to complete their degrees.

Colby R. Eggleston and Kyla Lee Entrepreneurship Award

Amount: $1,000; 2 winners, $500 each

For: High school juniors and seniors and undergraduate students studying business and/or entrepreneurship.

Deadline: July 25, 2023

This scholarship seeks to support students interested in becoming business owners so they can afford to complete their college degrees.

GRAFFITI ARTS SCHOLARSHIP

Amount: $5,000

For: High school seniors and undergraduate or graduate students studying business or fine arts.

Deadline: July 15, 2023

The GRAFFITI ARTS SCHOLARSHIP aims to support passionate students enrolled in (or intending to pursue) either a Fine Arts or Business degree.

Olympians Academy Leadership Wings Scholarship

Amount: $3,000; 2 winners, $1,500 each

For: Undergraduate students who are from Tennessee, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and are studying Business Management, Management Information Systems, Health Administration, or Organizational Leadership.

Deadline: August 6, 2023

This scholarship aims to support students pursuing professional leadership or management so they can lead the world to a better future.

Vincent U. Cornwall Legacy Scholarship

Amount: $500

For: High school seniors, undergraduate students, or trade/vocational students who have nonprofit or volunteering experience, are Black, Caribbean American, or African American, and are studying economics, finance, or accounting

Deadline: August 29, 2023

This scholarship aims to support students who are committed to providing financial literacy to their communities.

Maverick Scholarship

Amount: $2,000; 2 winners, $1,000 each

For: Undergraduate students who attend Howard University, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, and are studying business or a related field.

Deadline: August 1, 2023

This scholarship aims to support Howard University students who demonstrate entrepreneurial ambition.

The Key Difference Between Undergraduate and Graduate

What’s the difference between undergraduate and graduate, anyway? Read about the pros and cons of both to choose the right degree for you.

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Types of business majors

Aside from simply majoring in "business," there are a number of business programs that offer multiple types of specialized business degrees, allowing you to choose the type of program that will best suit you.

Choosing the type of program you want to attend should be based on your interests, skills and strengths, salary goal, career goal, and desired work-life balance. Different types of business degrees include:

Accounting

Accounting is the field that focuses on tracking, analyzing, and managing financial statements and documents for individual finances or business operations management.

Marketing

Marketing majors focus on product promotion, putting brands in the public eye, and researching consumer behavior and consumer reactions to advertising.

Sales

If you choose to specialize in sales, you will take coursework in business economics, entrepreneurship, and learning how to sell products and services.

Finance

Finance majors learn about all aspects of finances, including economics, project management, and business principles to help individuals and companies prepare and plan for the future.

International Business

Majoring in international business will prepare you for the new financial market and give you a global perspective. You will learn about cultural behaviors and international policy.

Human resources

Human resources majors learn how to help companies manage employees. Skills learned will include how to recruit and retain employees, how to interview applicants, workplace regulations, and how to train employees.

Health services administration

Studying health services administration will prepare you for a career in managing healthcare facilities such as doctor's offices, nursing homes, hospitals, and similar places of business.

Management information systems

If you choose to major in management information systems, you will study technology and specialize in learning how businesses can use technology and information systems.

Business administration and management

Getting a business administration degree will prepare you for management and directing jobs. You will learn the basics of business, including how businesses operate and how to analyze their strengths and weaknesses, and how to create and implement organizational strategies.

Master of business administration

Taking the extra step after your undergraduate degree to get your Master of Business Administration degree will prepare you for advanced roles as a working professional.

What is the number one ranked business school in the United States?

According to US News, the best undergraduate business schools in the United States are:

1. University of Pennsylvania
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. University of California Berkeley
4. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
5. Carnegie Mellon University

Frequently asked questions about business schools

Is getting an MBA worth it?

Getting an MBA (a master of business administration) is an extremely valuable asset to your career in business. It is one of the most prestigious graduate degrees. An MBA provides graduate students with expertise in business and management, and instills leadership skills.

Is a top business school worth it?

Business is one of the most popular fields of study, and business majors can make themselves stand out from other students and job applicants by attending one of the top business schools. Further, graduates from top business schools have higher incomes.

What is an entry-level salary for an MBA?

The average annual pay for an entry-level employee who has an MBA is $115,000.

What is the average salary at the best undergraduate business schools?

What business school you attend affects your post-graduation salary. MBAs from top-ranking schools made more money than graduate students from other schools, with an average salary of $175,789.

What is the hardest class in business school?

The classes taken in business schools cover a wide range of topics, but the hardest classes at business school usually are math-related classes such as accounting, economics, and statistics. Additionally, capstone courses and large projects can be challenging for business majors.

Bold.org

Create a Bold.org profile and use the scholarship search feature to access exclusive business school scholarships.The process is easy, and hundreds of scholarships are available to help aid students like yourself. There are scholarships on Bold.org available for many different majors and need-based and merit-based scholarships, among many other categories. You can also read the Bold.org blog for more articles like this one.