The Cheapest Business Degree Programs of 2027

The University of Arkansas-Fort Smith (UAFS) offers a Bachelor of Business Administration, and the page describes a fully online completion option for students who already hold an associate degree or have transferable general education or business coursework. The degree totals 120 credit hours, and up to 75 lower-level semester hours can transfer in. The curriculum covers core business functions and strategies in finance, marketing, ethics and management, and students choose major electives that match their career interests. Learning outcomes include communication, critical thinking and quantitative reasoning. The school reports that its business programs hold AACSB accreditation.

Federal data shows a 38% graduation rate and an 80% admit rate. In-state tuition is $4,752, compared with $9,600 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 68.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. UAFS enrolls about 5,496 students, and the online completion format fits transfer students and working adults who want to finish a bachelor's degree without relocating. Arkansas residents get the largest tuition advantage, while the format still works for students elsewhere who have credits to bring.

Arkansas Tech University (ATU) offers a Business Management bachelor's degree through its LeMoyne Smith School of Business. The page describes an eight-semester degree map designed to finish in four years, with practical work in leadership, human resources and entrepreneurship. Students can use electives to earn a certificate in Entrepreneurship, Human Resource Management, Microsoft Applications or Business Data Analytics, and an Accelerated Bachelor to Master Degree program lets them earn dual credit toward the MBA. Experiences listed include the Governor's Cup business plan competition, a study abroad option and a New York Wall Street Experience. The school reports AACSB accreditation and says the program is 100% available online or on campus.

The Program Score of 66 out of 100 is the basis of this ranking. Federal data show a 49% graduation rate and a 96% admit rate. In-state tuition is $5,995 and out-of-state tuition is $11,989. The program fits students who want a low-cost public option, a flexible online path or a head start on an MBA. The 49% graduation rate suggests students benefit from planning their schedule early, and the near-open admit rate makes entry straightforward.

California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly) offers business administration through the Orfalea College of Business. Students start with courses across business fields and then build on that base with upper-level courses in one of nine concentrations. The page lists Accounting and Law, Consumer Packaging, Entrepreneurship, Financial Management, Information Systems, Management and Human Resources, Marketing, Quantitative Analysis and Real Estate Finance. The page says the accounting area's graduating classes often reach 100 percent employment. The entrepreneurship concentration draws on the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which offers mentorship, pitch competitions and training. The page stresses practical skills through real-world projects and internships.

Federal data show Cal Poly graduates 86% of its students, and it admits 31% of applicants, so admission is selective. In-state tuition is $6,084 and out-of-state tuition is $18,684. The program holds a Program Score of 98.5 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits strong applicants who want a public business degree with a choice of specialties and a project-based, internship-friendly structure.

California State University-Long Beach's B.S. in Business Administration, Management Option, is a College of Business degree that requires a minimum of 120 units. The catalog describes admission under impaction. Lower-division requirements include Elementary Financial Accounting, Managerial Accounting, Introduction to Law and Business Transactions, Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, Calculus for Business and Introductory Business Statistics, each with a C or better. Students also complete a critical thinking course and show computer proficiency, by passing the Computer Proficiency Examination at 70% or by transferring an equivalent course. The upper division includes International Business and Business Ethics along with finance and other business courses. Majors must keep a major GPA of 2.0 or higher, and students whose GPA falls below that are given one semester to recover. The page text comes from an archived 2021-2022 catalog, so requirements should be confirmed with the college.

Federal data show a 69% graduation rate and a 46% admit rate at Cal State Long Beach. In-state tuition is $6,084 and out-of-state tuition is $18,684. The program earns a Program Score of 91.7 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a broad business degree at a large public university.

California State Polytechnic University-Pomona, known as Cal Poly Pomona, lists an E-Business option within its Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. The page says the option combines management and technology skills, with hands-on work in tools such as RFID, SAP, Dreamweaver and Android APIs. Students choose one of two career emphases. E-Business Technology focuses on processes such as customer relationship management, order fulfillment and supply chain information flow. E-Business Supply Chain Management focuses on operational improvement through project management, quality control and forecasting, with room to specialize in areas such as facilities management or marketing. The page lists career paths including business systems analyst, e-commerce product manager, e-business consultant and supply chain specialist.

Cal Poly Pomona reports a 68% graduation rate and admits 75% of applicants. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The Program Score of 87.4 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. The option fits students who want a general business degree with a technology or operations slant, and who plan to work in e-commerce, systems or supply chain roles.

San Jose State University offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an Aviation Management specialization, which the school says prepares students to work at a public or private airport or a general aviation company. The specialization pairs aviation courses such as Introduction to the Aviation Industry, Aircraft Systems, Air Traffic Control, General Aviation Operations and Management, and Airport Planning and Management with business coursework in finance, project management, microeconomics, and management and organizational behavior. Students also choose one elective from human resource management, procurement and supply management, operations and supply chain strategy, environmental issues, or entrepreneurship. The page links to four-year roadmaps and course articulation for transfer students.

SJSU graduates 69% of its students, and the school admits 85% of applicants, so entry is not highly selective. Annual tuition is $6,084 for California residents and $18,684 for out-of-state students, a gap that matters for anyone weighing a move to San Jose. The program earns a Program Score of 83.4 out of 100, the basis of its ranking. It fits students who want a business foundation but already know they want to work in airports or aviation operations, and who are comfortable at a large public university with an enrollment above 37,000.

California State University-Sacramento (Sacramento State) offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and this catalog page covers the Accountancy concentration. The major requires 69 units within a 120-unit degree. The page says the concentration prepares students for public accountancy, private industry and government, and that careers may lead to professional certification such as Certified Public Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Management Accountant and Certified Governmental Financial Manager. Students first complete 21 units of lower division prerequisites and then file a supplemental business application, because business is an impacted major. At least 15 upper division business units must be taken in residence.

Federal data shows a 56% graduation rate and a 94% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 77 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Sacramento State enrolls about 31,943 students. The program fits students who know early that they want accounting and can plan around the prerequisite sequence and the supplemental application. The minimum grade rules, with a C- floor in required courses and a 2.0 GPA in the major, are worth reading before enrolling.

California State University-Northridge (CSUN) offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics, and this page describes the Business Analytics option. All business majors share 27 units of lower division core courses and 18 units of upper division core, including a capstone. The option adds 15 units: predictive analytics, machine learning, prescriptive analytics, systems and technologies for managers, and data analysis and modeling. Students also choose electives such as data visualization, text mining and supply chain analytics. Entry requires a grade of C or higher in business statistics, and at least half of the business credits must be completed in residence.

Federal data shows a 57% graduation rate and a 93% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 76.8 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. CSUN enrolls about 38,313 students. The program fits students who like quantitative work and want hands-on exposure to machine learning and modeling within a business degree. Students who prefer a general management or marketing path can pick another option, since the college offers several within the same business administration major.

San Francisco State University offers a B.S. in Business Administration through the Lam Family College of Business, which is organized into ten departments including accounting, finance, management, marketing and information systems. The catalog lists nine concentrations: Accounting, Business Analytics, Decision Sciences, Finance, General Business, Information Systems, International Business, Management and Marketing. The college also runs a Student Success Center that provides on-site academic counseling for business students. The course list includes an entrepreneurship sequence, with an introduction to the entrepreneurial process, a small business course in which student teams create an actual startup, and electives in social entrepreneurship and growth strategies for established small businesses. The catalog also describes courses in business communication, ethics and environmental sustainability.

San Francisco State reports a 50% graduation rate and admits 96% of applicants. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The Program Score of 75.7 out of 100 is the basis of this program's ranking. The degree fits students who want a broad business foundation with the option to specialize, at a large public campus of about 22,500 students.

California State University-East Bay (Cal State East Bay) offers a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration through its Department of Management. The program is built on a set of core courses that give a general business perspective, and every student must choose an area of specialization. Options include entrepreneurship, general management, human resources management and organizational behavior, information technology management, and operations and supply chain management. General management, HR, IT management and operations and supply chain management also have online self-support versions. The department also offers a separate Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics, a STEM program covering AI, machine learning and data pipelines.

Federal data shows a 48% graduation rate and a 97% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 75.2 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Cal State East Bay enrolls about 12,326 students. The program fits students who want to tailor their electives to a career path, and working adults who need an online option. Business electives let students deepen their chosen option or explore other subjects, which suits those who are still deciding between specialties.

California State University-Stanislaus (Stanislaus State) offers business administration through its College of Business Administration, with concentrations in accounting, computer information systems, finance, general business, management, marketing and operations management. This page covers the operations management concentration, which is concerned with managing operations in manufacturing and service organizations. Students learn materials and inventory management, quality management, supply chain management and logistics. The page lists employers such as Del Monte Foods, E. & J. Gallo Winery, Foster Farms, Target and Hilmar Cheese Company, and says businesses increasingly emphasize lean manufacturing and quality management, which raises demand for operations graduates.

Federal data shows a 53% graduation rate and a 98% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 72.1 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Stanislaus State enrolls about 9,724 students. The program fits California residents who want a low in-state price and an operations or supply chain focus tied to employers such as food and beverage producers and retailers. Out-of-state students pay roughly three times the in-state rate, which matters when comparing options.

California State University-San Bernardino (Cal State San Bernardino) offers a Bachelor of Arts in Administration through the Jack H. Brown College Department of Management. The page describes two concentrations. The management concentration teaches students to work with people, build and coordinate capable teams and take on leadership responsibilities in a global economy. The human resource management concentration covers finding talent, developing it and managing people so the organization meets its goals. Each concentration has published roadmaps for first-time freshmen and for transfer students, and the department holds drop-in advising sessions.

Federal data shows a 55% graduation rate and a 94% admit rate. In-state tuition is $6,084, compared with $18,684 for out-of-state students. The program has a Program Score of 72 out of 100, which is the basis of its ranking. Cal State San Bernardino enrolls about 18,492 students. The program fits California residents who want a people-focused business degree at a public price, and transfer students who value a mapped-out path to graduation. Those who prefer a finance, analytics or accounting concentration should check the wider college catalog, since this page covers only two tracks.